A few streets from Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución, Doctor Omitsa Valdés runs a makeshift clinic in a dilapidated shantytown, telling patients they must bring their own syringes and medication because the local health post lacks basic reagents.
Health system in crisis
What was once lauded by the WHO and the UN as a model of universal primary care now struggles with severe drug shortages—official figures approach 70%—and a dwindling workforce. In the 1980s the Family Doctor program counted one physician for every 350 people. today the ratio has fallen to roughly one per 1,500 patients.
Patients arrive in small numbers, often waiting for weeks. An elderly woman at the Miguel Enríquez hospital noted the absence of medicine even for the coming month, while another patient observed that most doctors have migrated, leaving the remaining staff inexperienced.
Repression that does not ease
Police interventions have intensified despite fuel shortages. In Holguín, 39‑year‑old Yanet Rodríguez Sánchez was stopped on her motorcycle and ordered to return home, illustrating the state’s capacity to allocate scarce diesel to security forces.
Two influencers behind the online project El4tico were detained in early February, their equipment confiscated, and residents like Sánchez now face constant surveillance while seeking legal recourse.
Economic and social fallout
Over the past five years Cuba’s GDP has contracted by 11%, with a 5% drop recorded in 2025 alone. Inflation has risen above 10% this year, and electricity generation meets only about 40% of national demand, prompting fears of a total blackout as early as March.
Daily life is marked by empty bus stops, long bank queues, pervasive trash, and rising street crime. The average monthly salary is roughly $15, while the minimum pension sits at $7, forcing many to skip meals; UNICEF now reports that one‑tenth of Cuban children live in severe food poverty.
Tourism’s silent beaches
Varadero, once a cornerstone of Cuba’s tourism revival, now appears deserted. Visitor numbers fell 25% in 2025 after the United States halted tourist flows, and only about 20 of the original 50 hotels remain open.
Hotel staff earn between 4,000 and 5,000 Cuban pesos (about $10‑$15), often relying on tourist tips for a livable income. Drivers of “cocotaxis” report having only a few days of gasoline left, while tourists from Canada and Europe voice concerns about transport availability.
The dilemma of exile
Cubamax, a long‑standing U.S. Travel and remittance agency, announced limits on shipments of essential goods due to the severe fuel shortage, heightening anxiety among families abroad who fear they cannot support relatives at home.
The Cuban diaspora is split between those who oppose any aid to the regime and those who insist on continuing food and medicine transfers, a division sharpened by the memory of the 2021 protests that led to over 1,000 political imprisonments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are medicines scarce in Cuba?
Official data indicate a shortage affecting roughly 70% of pharmaceuticals, compounded by a health crisis involving dengue, chikungunya and other respiratory viruses, and a lack of laboratory reagents at local clinics.
What is the current state of the Cuban health system?
The system, once praised for universal primary care, now faces severe drug shortages, a physician shortage (one doctor per 1,500 people), frequent power outages, and patients often must bring their own medication to appointments.
How is the economic crisis affecting everyday life?
GDP has fallen, inflation exceeds 10%, electricity covers only 40% of demand, salaries are low (about $15 per month), and many families skip meals, leading to increased poverty and insecurity.
What concrete steps could help Cuba navigate this multifaceted crisis?
