Cubans turn to free community pharmacies as medicines grow scarce

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 11:48 · Archive

Free community pharmacies have become a lifeline for Cubans as medication shortages worsen amid economic crisis.

Cuba is facing severe medicine shortages as its economic crisis deepens. U.S. energy and financial restrictions imposed since January have compounded the problem. State pharmacies, which for decades were the main source of subsidised medicines, can no longer meet demand.

Community projects have emerged to fill the gap. Laura Mendoza runs 'Medicine Is Not for Sale', distributing free medications including antihistamines, diuretics, eye drops and antibiotics from her apartment in Havana's Vedado neighbourhood. She operates every Thursday and Sunday at noon, with people requesting medicines through WhatsApp. Mendoza estimates about 100 similar community projects operate in Havana alone.

Mendoza's initiative receives more than 13 kilograms of medicine each week from humanitarian groups in Canada and the United States, travellers carrying donations and local residents. She works with the Catholic charity Caritas and has expanded to five WhatsApp groups in Havana and recently added one in Guanabo. Volunteers sometimes deliver medicine to patients who cannot collect it themselves.

Recognising the severity of the shortage, Cuban authorities issued regulations in July allowing private pharmacies to operate—a historic change to the country's state-run health system. Online sellers, street vendors and WhatsApp and Telegram groups have also stepped in to provide medicines while these new private pharmacies prepare to open.

How it is being reported

• Cubans turn to free community pharmacies as medicines grow scarceIn Havana, Laura Mendoza runs a project called “Medicine Is Not for Sale,” providing free medications to Cubans facing severe shortages.Clickorlando · 11 Oct, 11:06
• Cubans turn to free community pharmacies as medicines grow scarceIn Havana, Laura Mendoza runs a project called “Medicine Is Not for Sale,” providing free medications to Cubans facing severe shortages.News4Jax · 11 Oct, 11:06

In this story: Laura Mendoza · Cuba · Havana · Caritas · United States · Canada

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