AGP Executive Report

Cuba Healthcare Under Siege: A new report says Cuba’s healthcare system is in freefall as cuts and shortages bite, with hospitals facing lack of supplies and power disruptions. Fuel Crisis Hits Care: Advocacy groups urge House Democrats to vote on a war powers resolution to end Trump’s oil embargo, warning it has triggered grid collapses, stalled transport, and pushed rationing of care. Pharma System Changes: Cuba is advancing new management models for pharmaceutical services, including how private pharmacies will operate and what medications they can dispense. Dengue & Public Guidance: Health authorities in Las Tunas strengthen surveillance and urge people to seek care for any dengue symptoms. Dialysis Access Boost: Las Tunas has launched a charging station for electric vehicles transporting hemodialysis patients, with plans to add solar panels. Food Supply Strain: Mincin officials admit rice is produced but not perceived due to supply-chain failures, worsened by fuel cuts. Corruption Probe Recognized: A Cuban investigation into corruption and “silent privatization” in the national health system is a finalist for the Roche Health Journalism Award. Humanitarian Aid: Barbados joined a CARICOM-Mexico shipment to Cuba, sending powdered milk amid severe shortages. Immigration Pressure on Cubans: A ReliefWeb report highlights how more than half a million Cubans tied to the I-220A process face uncertain status as courts debate eligibility under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Pharmaceutical Reform in Cuba: Cuba is moving ahead with Decree 160/2026, evaluating 36 projects that would let non-state entities manage community pharmacies—without leasing state premises—while keeping strict rules on storage, dispensing, and CECMED registration. Holguín Wellness Pharmacy Launch: A new Holguín pharmacy, “La botica de Los Parques,” is blending health products with wellness items like natural juices, tea, fruit salad, and adult diapers, with restocking paid in national currency and via electronic channels. Agriculture Overhaul for Food Security: Cuba published a new legal framework for agriculture aimed at food sovereignty, expanding usufruct and land access for micro, small, and medium-sized producers and cooperatives. Human Rights at the UN: Cuba scored a resounding Human Rights Council win in Geneva, with delegations backing the call to end the U.S. blockade as illegal and harmful. Urgent Child Malnutrition Appeal: An activist is seeking help for 4-month-old Melody, hospitalized in critical condition with severe malnutrition, after her mother is reportedly detained. Cuban Health Workers Abroad: The Bahamas has terminated contracts of 31 Cuban specialist teachers, as pressure on Cuban medical influence continues. Global Diplomacy Touchpoint: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, where leaders are pushing Global South cooperation.

Heart Health: A cardiologist shares seven autumn rules to protect your heart, including staying active (about 150 minutes weekly) and adding strength work. Cuba Healthcare Under Strain: Kidney patients from Maisí describe inhumane hemodialysis conditions in Baracoa—no electricity, unsafe water, poor food, and sleeping on floors. Hospital Water Crisis: Holguín’s main surgical hospital lacks potable water, forcing families to walk nearly a kilometer to fetch it. Emergency Care Delays: A family in Regla, Havana, says an ambulance took 56 minutes after a serious motorcycle crash, raising alarms about response times. Staffing and System Pressure: A surgeon in Ciego de Ávila says he was expelled from the hospital after being “released” from the health system, leaving him without pay and still seeing patients. Doctors’ Rights Lawsuit: Cuban doctors allege forced-labor conditions in Brazil’s Mais Médicos program and sue PAHO for $129M over withheld wages and oversight. Policy and Access: Cuba’s agriculture reforms publish new rules expanding usufruct and allowing broader participation in food production.

Dengue Watch (Las Tunas): Health authorities in Las Tunas say dengue risk remains active as dengue type 4 circulates, urging people to seek care fast for fever, joint or muscle pain, and headaches—especially children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with other illnesses. Care Access (Cuba’s home front): A Matanzas doctor, Griselda, has been without electricity for nearly three months while caring for her bedridden mother after pelvic fractures, highlighting how power failures can turn medical needs into daily emergencies. Healthcare Pressure (pay & retention): A viral video comparing a newly graduated doctor’s salary to prices sparked outrage, feeding wider concerns about medical exodus and resignations amid worsening economic strain. Health System Under Strain: Coverage also points to Cuba’s healthcare system “under siege,” with lives and staffing stress showing up behind the numbers. Private Sector & Pharma: Cuba’s private businesses are awaiting state approval for 36 pharmaceutical projects, while rules for how private pharmacies operate are also in focus. Public Health Response (workplaces & schools): Las Tunas is stepping up surveillance and workplace/school inspections to reduce mosquito breeding as the school year begins. Policy & Diplomacy: Cuba’s foreign ministry again denies ongoing negotiations with the U.S. as the blockade’s health impacts remain a central theme.

Mental Health Under Strain in Cuba: A new report highlights how daily economic pressure and U.S. energy embargo effects are pushing many Cubans to breaking point, with primary care doctors increasingly acting as de facto counselors as families lose hope. Pharma Access & Private Sector Rules: Cuba is still streamlining regulations for non-state pharmaceutical projects, with 36 proposals under review and none yet providing community pharmacy services to the public, while state pharmacies continue operating. Health System Under Siege: An embassy-linked account ties blackout risk to hospital care, describing life-or-death disruptions for newborns, surgeries, dialysis, and medicine supply chains. Regional Disease Watch: U.S. health surveillance reports 89 travel-associated chikungunya cases with no local spread so far, shifting the focus to traveler precautions and prompt reporting of fever and severe joint pain. Cuba in the News Beyond Health: Five Cuban workers were killed in a Miami cargo-jet crash while cleaning aircraft, underscoring ongoing workplace safety concerns for essential services.

Mental Health Under Strain: A new AP report shows Cuba’s daily crises—sweltering nights, water and power shortages, fuel limits, and weak signals—are pushing many people to breaking point, with doctors describing patients who “end up having to play psychologist.” Blockade Impacts Healthcare: A congressional “shadow hearing” on “Breaking the Blockade” heard testimony that sanctions and licensing barriers are worsening access to medicines and basic supplies, contributing to preventable deaths and rising infant mortality. Energy Crisis & Public Safety: Cuban authorities detained a young veterinarian from Fontanar after a peaceful protest over blackouts and lack of water, with reports of violent repression. Private Sector Legal Update: Cuba’s Council of State published revised rules formally incorporating private companies with more than 100 workers into the legal framework, expanding categories by employee size. Food & Livestock Regulation: The government approved updated procedures for slaughtering, consumption, and marketing of cattle and equine meat, including new options for people who fatten certain animals without owning land. Policy Debate: Razones de Cuba responded to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments on the energy crisis but avoided direct answers about hotel investments versus grid priorities. Regional Health Focus at BRICS: BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi is set to include health and disaster-reduction resilience among its priorities, with Cuba listed among partner countries.

Neonatal Care Upgrade in Holguín: Cuba’s Vladimir Ilich Lenin Teaching University Hospital is boosting survival odds for premature babies with specialized training in neonatal hemodynamics, including free monitoring tools like ultrasounds to track blood flow and organ health. Health Alert Amid Diarrheal Illness: The U.S. Embassy issued a health warning to Cuba after a significant rise in diarrheal illness, spotlighting ongoing public health strain. Weather Surveillance Strain: Cuba’s meteorological radars are reportedly offline around the clock and images are not loading on INSMET’s site, limiting real-time storm and hurricane monitoring during peak season. Power and Food Pressure: Cuba’s foreign minister renewed warnings that the U.S. blockade is damaging daily life, including fuel limits that worsen blackouts and disrupt essentials like sanitation and food safety. Solar Push in Guantánamo: Cuba inaugurated the El Algarrobo solar park, adding grid-connected renewable power to help ease energy shortages. Humanitarian Safety Concerns: Reports from Equatorial Guinea describe firearms used against U.S.-deported migrants, raising alarms about medical access and legal support for detainees. Cuba’s Legal Crackdown: Las Tunas sentenced eight political prisoners to 7–8 years, citing “propaganda against the constitutional order.”

Solar & Power: Cuba inaugurated the El Algarrobo photovoltaic solar park in Guantánamo, a 21.875 MWp project tied into the national grid, built by Cuban technicians after Chinese specialists left, aimed at easing energy strain. Waterborne Illness Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a health alert after a significant rise in diarrheal illness linked to worsening water and energy infrastructure, urging extra caution with perishable foods, handwashing, hydration, and prompt care for severe symptoms. Blockade Impact on Daily Life: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez called the U.S. blockade “collective punishment,” citing blackouts, spoiled food, and heat that disrupt family life, and arguing fuel restrictions worsen power outages. Food Safety Watch: As cyclosporiasis cases ease in the U.S., coverage highlights how lettuce can carry parasites and what people should know about leafy greens and protection. Healthcare Access & Pain Care: AFT Pharmaceuticals launched Combogesic® in the U.S., a non-opioid acetaminophen/ibuprofen combo for short-term mild-to-moderate acute pain, partnering with Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Marketplace. Migration Safety Concerns: Reuters reported Equatorial Guinea police pulled firearms on U.S.-deported migrants, with witnesses citing inadequate medical care and legal support gaps.

Embargo’s Health Toll: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez says the U.S. blockade caused a record $8.083B loss from March 2025–Feb 2026, with power outages and diesel shortages disrupting operating rooms and life-support equipment, and he links the crisis to rising infant mortality. No U.S. Talks: Rodríguez also reiterated there are currently no negotiations or roadmaps with Washington, while Cuba says it remains willing to stay in contact. Public Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a health warning about a rise in diarrheal illness tied to deteriorating water and energy infrastructure. Poverty and Food Strain: A human rights report says 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty and 8 in 10 have skipped meals due to lack of food or money, with electricity and healthcare among top concerns. On-the-Ground Support: In Holguín, a restaurant owner provided free meals to doctors on duty at a municipal hospital during weekends. Healthcare Workforce Paperwork: Cuban medical workers lined up at the Ministry of Health to register for Electronic ID cards after being accepted to work in Guyana.

US-Cuba tensions and health fallout: Cuba’s foreign minister says there are no talks with the United States, blaming a “genocidal” blockade for $8.1B in 2025 losses and warning 2026 will bring sharper damage after an oil blockade that triggered days-long blackouts—conditions that directly threaten food safety, sleep, and basic care. Hospital sanitation spotlight: A new video from Camagüey’s Manuel Ascunce Domenech Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital shows flooded, trash-filled surgery-room restrooms and worsening conditions reported over years, raising fresh alarms for patient safety and infection risk. Drought and water safety in Guantánamo: Authorities discussed alternative water sources beyond tank trucks, inspecting wells for safe consumption and pushing new well sites, while also addressing septic tank overflows and transformer deliveries to keep essential services running. Public health alert context: The US embassy issued a health alert for Cuba after a significant increase in diarrheal illness, underscoring how infrastructure strain and water access remain central to disease prevention. Child safety in storms: A lightning strike killed a 13-year-old in Las Tunas and injured two other minors, prompting renewed warnings about thunderstorm risks. Migration and health access pressure: A Cuba-linked deportation cohort arrived in Guyana under a US migration cooperation framework, adding uncertainty for people’s wellbeing during relocation and processing.

Public Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Cuba issued a warning after a significant rise in diarrheal illness, linking outbreaks to the worsening water and energy infrastructure and urging extra caution with perishable foods, handwashing, hydration, and prompt care for severe symptoms. Hospital Conditions: A new video from Camagüey’s Manuel Ascunce Domenech Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital shows dirty, flooded surgery-room bathrooms and long-running sanitation problems, adding pressure on Cuba’s health system as surgeries have reportedly been disrupted by facility deterioration. Energy & Health Risks: Reports of blackouts lasting over 20 hours and ongoing water problems are fueling broader health concerns, with residents in Havana’s Fontanar neighborhood protesting electricity failures and police responding to demonstrations. Healthcare Access Abroad: An ex-Italian deputy, Alessandro Di Battista, underwent emergency surgery in Havana after a sudden health deterioration, with officials and family asking for discretion while transfer back to Italy remains uncertain. Violence & Community Safety: A femicide was confirmed in Nuevitas, Camagüey, and another killing was reported near El Cobre, underscoring ongoing risks that can quickly become health emergencies.

Public Health & Infrastructure: The U.S. embassy in Havana issued a health alert for Cuba, citing a spike in diarrheal illness linked to worsening water and electricity infrastructure, warning residents to be careful with perishable food storage and temperature control. Disease Watch: Isla de la Juventud officials admitted uneven solid-waste collection and flagged a worrying rise in dengue cases, as municipal delegates discussed waste service gaps and partial privatization of collection fees. Power & Living Conditions: In Havana’s Fontanar neighborhood, residents staged pot-banging protests and blocked a main road over blackouts lasting more than 20 hours, with police patrols moving in to contain the demonstrations. Health in the Spotlight: Former Cuban President Raúl Castro reappeared publicly at a military event after hospitalization rumors, while family members and state media pushed back on speculation about his condition. Medical Care Abroad (Cuba-linked): An ex-Italian deputy underwent emergency surgery in Havana after sudden deterioration, with transfer back to Italy pending stabilization. Policy Pressure: Reports say U.S. sanctions are intensifying economic strain, with Cuba increasingly dependent on fuel, vehicles, and medicines imported from the U.S. even as pressure grows.

Public Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a warning about a sharp rise in diarrheal illness across Cuba, linking it to worsening water and electricity infrastructure that disrupts safe water, food storage, and refrigeration. Vector-Borne Disease Watch: Health authorities in Las Tunas say rainy, hotter conditions are boosting arboviruses and intensifying surveillance, larvicide, and mosquito-control efforts. Local Health & Sanitation: Isla de la Juventud officials admitted uneven solid-waste collection and flagged a dengue increase, while Pinar del Río’s Communist Party bureau again acknowledged ongoing water-supply complaints tied to equipment and electricity shortages. Care Access Under Strain: A Cuban family in Holguín shared how community donations helped a daughter with schizophrenia after years of hardship, highlighting gaps in medicines and support. Health System Disruption: A Havana hospital surgery delayed Italian politician Alessandro Di Battista’s transfer back to Italy, underscoring how medical access and logistics remain fragile. Health Risks From Imports: Reports also point to Cuba’s growing reliance on imported fuel, vehicles, and medicines even as sanctions tighten—an environment that can ripple into health and disease control.

Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a warning about a spike in diarrheal illness across Cuba, linking cases to worsening water and energy infrastructure and the knock-on effects for food storage and sanitation. Public Health Under Strain: The same coverage points to a fuel blockade that has intensified power cuts, raising the risk of outbreaks as refrigeration and hygiene systems struggle. Violence and Care Needs: A femicide in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, left a 25-year-old woman dead after an alleged knife attack by an ex-partner, with reports that her nearly five-year-old daughter witnessed the assault. Community Support: A solidarity project in Las Tunas is raising donations for a grandmother caring for a granddaughter with cerebral palsy and microcephaly, after the family’s isolation and medical needs went viral. Crisis at School: Cuba’s back-to-school push is described as running on fumes, with shortages of teachers, food, and uniforms—conditions that can directly affect children’s health and wellbeing. Care in Emergencies: Díaz-Canel urged Havana residents to prepare for sheltering in basements, semi-basements, and tunnels amid ongoing blackouts and shortages.

Public Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a warning after a significant rise in diarrheal illness across Cuba, linking cases to worsening water and electricity infrastructure that disrupts hygiene, food storage, and refrigeration. Sanctions & Energy Crisis: The alert comes as the U.S. continues a fuel blockade, with UN experts warning the humanitarian impact is driving disease risk. Local Health & Safety: In Holguín’s Sagua de Tánamo, a homemade tractor crash killed at least three and injured five, underscoring ongoing workplace and road safety concerns. Civil Defense Preparedness: Díaz-Canel urged Havana residents to know where to shelter in basements, semi-basements, and tunnels as blackouts and shortages strain daily life. Healthcare Support Abroad: Cuba’s Henry Reeve medical team is set to help the Democratic Republic of Congo respond to its Ebola outbreak, as deaths surpass 3,000. Community Solidarity: In Camagüey, two girls selling sweets to feed their mother went viral, drawing donations after viewers saw the family’s difficult living conditions.

Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana warned of a sharp rise in diarrheal illness across Cuba, linking cases to worsening water and energy infrastructure and naming pathogens like E. coli, norovirus, and Shigella; it urged extra food and hygiene precautions and to seek care for severe or persistent symptoms. Sanctions & Care Access: The U.S. announced new sanctions targeting Raul Castro’s grandson Fidel Ernesto Castro and multiple Cuban entities, including Abapet, warning the measures could further strain Cuba’s already fragile electricity grid—an issue that directly affects hospital operations and access to care. Scholarships for Workforce: Cuba’s Ministry of Health and Wellness held a major scholarship ceremony, distributing training support to 67 medical students and expanding opportunities to priority areas such as nursing administration and psychiatry as part of a human resources strategy. Maternal-Child Nutrition: WFP boosted a maternal and child nutrition project in Holguín, focusing on improving health outcomes for families amid shortages. Humanitarian Aid Push: The Cuba Vive Appeal reported raising £555,000, saying donated medical supplies and equipment have been delivered in multiple consignments to hospitals, clinics, and communities.