Medicines in Cuba: A Painful Reality
By Laura Gomez
HAVANA TIMES – Mercedes Hernandez says there’s no worse place than the pharmacy. It wasn’t always like this, she used to get her salbutamol asthma inhaler medicine without much trouble. But now, purchasing medicine is one of the biggest challenges faced by the elderly in Cuba. It’s heartbreaking to see them wait for hours to buy only a portion of what they need. Mercedes has been battling asthma for 72 years and later developed hypertension and Parkinson’s. I assisted her outside the pharmacy and accompanied her to her home.
Have you been waiting in line for a long time?
Mercedes Hernandez: I arrived at 5:30 in the morning. My daughter woke me up before heading to work; she can’t miss it since her job is the household’s only source of income. When I got here, the line was already formed. Imagine, most people spend the night outside to secure an early spot. Sometimes, I have to leave by afternoon and return the next day, risking that the medicines I need might be sold out. Hours under the sun take a toll. Sometimes, I sit on the curb but have trouble getting up. I hold my need to use the bathroom and eventually give up. Other times, my legs swell so much I can barely walk back home.
Do you know which day medicines are restocked?
It used to be on Tuesdays, but lately, they arrive without prior notice. Neighbors living nearby spread the word, and that’s how we find out. On those days, I can’t avoid the stress—I barely sleep. Many times, the medicine is gone before my turn comes. It’s hard to understand why the state can’t guarantee medicines. Before, when you saw a young person in line, you could expect an act of solidarity. Now, it’s the elderly who are most in need. Personally, I haven’t encountered any young person in line offering to help. I think there are fewer young people in this country, and that’s terrible, they are the future.
How do people find out which medicines are available?
The manager makes a list of what’s in stock and posts it on the pharmacy door. I always try to calculate how many people are ahead of me, but that doesn’t always work. Some have multiple prescriptions, which worsens the situation. There are also those who sell their spots in line or get prioritized by the manager because they’re friends. Sadly, we’re left at God’s mercy. My daughter often tells me not to endure these long waits, but I don’t want her spending more and more money on my medications.
So your daughter buys medicines from clandestine sellers?
Yes, and it pains me that she has to pay such high prices. I had to stop working at 40 to care for my mother for many years. Since I didn’t complete enough working years, I couldn’t qualify for a pension. If I had one, I could help buy the salbutamol spray, which hasn’t been available in the pharmacy since July. My daughter pays 2,000 pesos for it. Enalapril, which used to be made in Cuba, is now imported and costs 400 pesos for a blister of ten tablets.
The media says the shortages are due to lack of funding, and that components must be sourced from China and Europe. On top of that, there’s the US embargo and the lack of fuel to transport supplies to dispensaries. The reality is that many people are suffering, agonizing, and dying. I’m not talking about luxuries like perfumes or clothes; this is about survival.
I have a friend in Pinar del Río who’s asthmatic, and she wrote on Facebook that she’ll pay any price for salbutamol spray. It’s heartbreaking. Another friend doesn’t have Nitroglycerin for her heart condition. Many are begging for help in various ways. It hurts to feel selfish because even sharing the little you have has become almost impossible.
Tell me about medical prescriptions. I imagine that’s another difficulty.
In Cuba, nothing works anymore. Everything is in shortage, from the moment you wake up to the moment you lay your head on the pillow. Something as simple as a prescription to buy medicine has become a problem. When I go to the clinic or polyclinic, doctors tell me there’s no paper to print prescriptions. Even medical certificates to take to workplaces are scarce. I think there’s a lack of initiative, how many self-employed people have printing licenses? You realize that, oftentimes, the blockade is internal. And without that piece of paper, you can’t go to the pharmacy.
Do you use natural medicine?
Yes, it’s the only thing not blocked or overpriced. Thanks to medicinal plants, we can treat colds, pain, and other ailments. I have a book on herbal remedies that I treasure like gold, and I have great faith in it. It’s a blessing that our ancestors taught us how nature provides everything we need. Now, more than ever, we rely on it for our health.