Irregularities in the Production of Medicines Affect Cancer Patients

Irregularities in the Production of Medicines Affect Cancer Patients /
14ymedio
Posted on June 2, 2015

14ymedio, Havana, 1 June 2015 — The Ministry of Public Health has
approved an urgent plan given the deficit in medications facing the
country, among which are included some for the treatment of cancer. The
details of the measures to implement the plan were offered by the head
of the department Roberto Morales Ojeda during the Council of Ministers
which met last Friday, according to the newspaper Granma.

The minister said that the situation is is due to delays in the
importing of raw materials and the "need to shut down the plant
dedicated to this vital line of treatment dies to irregularities in the
production process." Morales, however, did not detail the type of
irregularities that led to the current situation.

The minister also explained that he has approved a program that includes
the use of products from the reserve and the purchase of medications in
countries of our region that allow for quick transportation to Cuba.

Right now the production plan for cancer medications is shut down, at
the same time that construction is proceeding on a new one.

Morales Ojeda explained that, in order to be able to supply drugs in the
coming months, he has approved the "required financing" and the
Biocubafarma Business Group will adopt measures to improve the situation
in the second half of the year.

Shortages of essential drugs has been a constant complaint of the
population, particularly in the last half year. Pain relievers,
anti-inflammatories, skin and antifungal creams, have sharply dropped in
supply. Also on the list are products such as thermometers, elastic
bands and adhesive strips, popularly known as Band-Aids.

Source: Irregularities in the Production of Medicines Affect Cancer
Patients / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/irregularities-in-the-production-of-medicines-affect-cancer-patients-14ymedio/