‘The U.S. govt. policy is to systematically cut off any source of income to Cuba’, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The U.S. government's policy aims to systematically cut off all sources of income to Cuba, severely impacting its healthcare and biotechnology sectors.
• Washington D.C. has intensified pressure on countries in the Global South to dismantle Cuban medical missions, threatening sanctions against collaborators.
• Cuba's renowned health indicators are declining, with childhood cancer survival rates dropping from 80% to 65% and infant mortality increasing.
• Cuba is responding by intensifying international collaboration, particularly with BRICS countries, and optimizing production strategies.
• The BioCuba Pharma group, a decentralized organization, leads Cuba's biotechnology efforts, focusing on a "full cycle" approach from research to commercialization.

Detailed Insights:

• The U.S. campaign seeks to discredit Cuba's medical internationalism, falsely claiming forced labor in its overseas medical missions.
• Cuban doctors working abroad receive higher salaries, and their earnings contribute to purchasing supplies for Cuban hospitals.
• Cuba's General Law defines science as a "public good at the service of socialism," balancing state priorities with intellectual autonomy.
• While core biotech remains state-owned, Cuba is opening parts of its economy to the private sector and external investors.
• BioCuba Pharma comprises over 36 units and more than 20 joint ventures globally, emphasizing autonomy in strategic planning.
• Cuba prioritizes biotech projects with the highest probability of success and fosters joint research calls and centers with other nations.
• The One Health approach, integrating human medicine with agricultural biotechnology, has been a long-standing strategy since the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was founded.
• The U.S. blockade has led to power cuts, oil shortages, and difficulties in acquiring spare parts for essential medical equipment.
• The international scientific community is urged to condemn U.S. policies and promote agreements for collaboration and information exchange.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Economic Strangulation: A policy designed to weaken a country by cutting off its financial resources and trade.
• Medical Internationalism: A foreign policy where a country provides medical aid and personnel to other nations, often for humanitarian or diplomatic reasons.
• BioCuba Pharma: A state-owned business group in Cuba that oversees the country's pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
• One Health: An integrated, unifying approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.