Cuba faces worsening health crisis as US embargo cuts supplies

Cuban health officials report a sharp deterioration in public health indicators as U.S. sanctions tighten. Infant mortality rose from 4 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 9.9 in 2025, a 148% increase. The survival rate for children with cancer fell from 85% to 65%, and more than 100,000 children have stopped receiving the state‑subsidized daily litre of milk.

The sanctions have also disrupted surgeries, kidney‑dialysis treatment and the availability of medicines, with 300 of 395 essential drugs unavailable. Power outages now exceed 20 hours, and fuel shortages have left 1,400 megawatts of generating capacity offline. Only a single fuel shipment arrived in 2026, and 170 containers of aid worth $6.3 million have not reached beneficiaries. United Nations agencies cite logistical hurdles that impede delivery of food, medical supplies and vaccines, heightening the humanitarian emergency.