The High Prices of Cuban Medicines

Irina Echarry

As a result of a severe case of anemia that I was discovered to have, I’ve been forced to make drastic changes in my lifestyle. These relate, for example, to my eating schedule and having to consume certain foods in special ways; but also to my having to take specific medicines to increase the amount of iron in my body.

That’s easy to say, but experience demonstrates that the task is extremely complicated. My medical care has been free and quick. Some medicines I’ve been able to buy easily at the pharmacy, but to acquire others I’ve had to turn to the black market.

But as many people agree, in Cuba there’s alternative medicine for anemia, and its quality has been demonstrated. Therefore I threw myself into the task of reinforcing my treatment by raising my hemoglobin level rapidly.

It’s true that Cuban laboratories like Labiofan, BioCen or Genix market truly nutritious products such as Trofin, Ferrical and Spirulina.

Ferrical is sold for 30 Cuban pesos (about $1.20 USD), but you can rarely get it in pharmacies, unless you go to Ojo de Agua. They make the medicine there but to buy it you have to show the papers that indicate you have anemia, meaning that preventive treatment cannot be rendered.

Trofin and Spirulina are a little more difficult to acquire since they’re only sold in hard currency CUCs. For Trofin they use cow’s blood, hydrolyzed proteins and bee honey. This magnificent anti-anemic, produced completely in Cuba, supplies iron to the body and doesn’t produce adverse reactions – except to the pocket: it costs 9.60 CUCs (US $10.60). They tell me though that pregnant women receive it free in maternal homes, as do people suffering from HIV.

Spirulina is an alga with an impressive concentration of nutrients. It proliferates in warm waters and in our country it’s plentiful. There has been an entire revolution with its discovery since it provides significant quantities of proteins, especially Vitamin B12. A flask with 70 pills is sold for 5 CUCs and the recommended daily dose is six pills – thus to take if for a month costs well over half the average wage here.

I have no idea or information about how much the government spends on the production of those medicines. However, keeping in mind the poor nourishment here on the island, some solution should be sought so that ordinary Cubans (those who aren’t pregnant and don’t have HIV) can acquire them at less onerous prices.

This is to say that sick citizens shouldn’t have to pay for a Cuban product at the same price as a foreigner who comes here on a visit. Is something like that possible?