More than 95,000 patients in Cuba are currently awaiting surgical procedures, including over 5,000 cancer-related operations, according to figures released by the country’s Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) on Tuesday, highlighting the growing strain on the island’s healthcare system.
Deputy Health Minister Carilda Peña García outlined the challenges during an appearance on state television, stating that tightened U.S. economic and energy sanctions have significantly affected the health sector’s ability to maintain services and secure essential medical supplies.
According to Peña, the restrictions have hindered the acquisition of diagnostic materials and inputs needed for vaccine production. She said fuel shortages and financial obstacles have also complicated the implementation of approved public health protocols, creating additional pressure on hospitals and healthcare providers across the country.
The ministry reported that nearly 2,900 patients undergoing hemodialysis have experienced disruptions to their treatment due to failures in water and electricity services. Peña said chronic patients who require long-term medical care have been particularly affected, with ongoing shortages limiting efforts to improve their quality of life.
Healthcare facilities are also facing infrastructure-related difficulties. Peña stated that some hospitals are operating without functioning elevators and lack adequate laundry resources. She added that deteriorating building conditions continue to affect medical institutions, while transportation shortages have complicated the delivery of supplies to clinics and hindered the movement of doctors and nurses.
Despite these challenges, Peña said the health sector has implemented what she described as “reengineering measures” aimed at preserving services and preventing the closure of healthcare facilities. According to the deputy minister, authorities have focused on maintaining operations wherever possible while optimizing the use of available resources.
At the same time, health officials have warned about worsening environmental conditions that could increase public health risks. Peña said high seasonal temperatures, elevated humidity levels, garbage accumulation linked to the fuel crisis, and persistent water leaks have created favorable conditions for the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue and chikungunya.
The deputy minister recalled that Cuba recently experienced an epidemic involving both diseases. Although she described the current rate of suspected dengue cases as “very low,” Peña cautioned that localized outbreaks remain possible because the virus continues to circulate on the island.
The healthcare challenges outlined by Minsap come amid broader economic difficulties affecting Cuba. The Cuban government has repeatedly argued that tightened U.S. commercial and energy restrictions, together with sanctions imposed since early 2026, are the primary factors behind shortages of essential supplies, medical inputs, and basic goods.
Officials maintain that the restrictions have affected the country’s ability to access international markets, obtain critical materials, and sustain key public services. The latest figures released by health authorities underscore the scale of the pressures facing Cuba’s healthcare system as hospitals work to manage growing treatment delays, infrastructure problems, and supply shortages while continuing to provide care across the country.
