Cuban Hospitals Face Critical Shortages Amid U.S. Sanctions and Power Outages

• •Cuban hospitals face severe shortages of medical supplies due to U.S. sanctions.
• •Doctors are improvising with alternative formulas for malnourished infants.
• •Electricity shortages hinder medical procedures, forcing reliance on mobile phone lights.

Cuban hospitals, particularly William Soler Pediatric Hospital in Havana, are experiencing severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and ongoing power outages. A recent case involved a two-month-old boy suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, requiring specialized formula that is increasingly difficult to obtain. Doctors are forced to improvise with alternatives like formulas made from malanga and chicken. The U.S. has maintained a trade embargo since the 1960s, with recent restrictions under President Trump's administration further complicating access to essential imports. While the U.S. claims these sanctions do not target food and medical supplies, foreign companies are hesitant to engage with Cuba due to fear of penalties. The healthcare crisis is worsened by electricity shortages, with reports of surgeries being completed using mobile phone lights when generators fail. Many doctors have left the profession due to low salaries and poor working conditions, with some earning more from side jobs than their medical roles. The situation remains dire, with critical shortages of cancer drugs, anesthetics, and lab equipment.