Cuba permits private pharmacies as price caps removal fuels consumer price surge

The Cuban government announced that private sector pharmacies will soon be allowed to open alongside state‑run outlets. Officials say the move is intended to increase the availability of medicines and curb the high street prices that many Cubans currently pay on the black market. Resident Eulises Darias, who requires heart medication, warned that without the change he must buy drugs at "exorbitant" prices.

At the same time, the regime eliminated price caps on key staples such as chicken, edible oil, rice, powdered milk and pasta. The policy shift has triggered sharp price increases; Odelkis Nápoles reported chicken prices soaring from 3,000 to over 7,000 pesos and oil rising from 2,100 to 3,000 pesos per litre. Private businesses are also refusing small‑denomination cash and bank transfers, further limiting access to food for many households.