‘To play God’: Cuba’s healthcare system collapses under US pressure

US sanctions have severely impacted Cuba's healthcare system, leading to fuel and supply shortages. This has forced the Cuban government to ration care, suspending non-essential medical services and prioritizing emergency procedures. Consequently, survival rates for childhood cancer have dropped, and infant and maternal mortality rates have climbed. Doctors report patients presenting with worsened conditions due to delayed preventive care and a lack of necessary antibiotics. Surgeries considered "elective," such as mastectomies and some organ transplants, are being postponed, creating long waiting lists for thousands of patients, including cancer patients and children. The shortages are attributed to the US sanctions, which also affect transportation and power, further hindering access to medical care and leading to increased mortality.

Cuba has eased long-standing restrictions on its private sector and imports to combat a worsening humanitarian crisis, marked by severe medical and energy shortages. The reforms, approved by parliament and effective immediately, permit the import and resale of certain goods and medicines, and loosen regulations on foreign oil extraction. These changes aim to address critical shortages exacerbated by a U.S. oil blockade. While private enterprise has seen gradual expansion, these measures represent a significant shift in the Communist-led government's strict economic control since the 1960s. The government removed 46 prohibitions and relaxed 35 other regulations on private industry, though key sectors like tobacco production and internet access remain state-controlled.