Cuba grapples with hostia shortages and drug production limits under US sanctions

Frequent electricity cuts across Cuba, intensified by a U.S. oil embargo and broader sanctions, have forced the monastery that supplies communion hosts to ration production. Priests report that the limited power—sometimes only two hours a day—has reduced the output of hosts used in Catholic Masses, prompting distribution constraints for worshippers.

In parallel, U.S. sanctions are restricting Cuba’s access to raw materials needed to produce roughly 300 of the 395 essential medicines in the basic health basket. BioCubaFarma, the state biotech group, says it is prioritising emergency drugs such as intravenous fluids and dialysis supplies while seeking partnerships with China, Vietnam and Russia to mitigate the shortfall.