Cuba Suspends International Medical Missions Amid Energy Shortages

Cuba’s Henry Reeve International Medical Contingency has halted operations in at least 12 countries because of severe power shortages, the Cuban Ministry of Public Health said. The outages, which began in March 2026, stem from aging infrastructure, a 40% drop in Venezuelan oil deliveries that fund Cuba’s energy grid, and U.S. sanctions that limit access to spare parts.

Medical teams stranded in Angola, Venezuela, Nicaragua and other recipient nations lack electricity for essential equipment, vaccine refrigeration and communications. A ministry spokesperson said non‑essential services are suspended in six countries. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel pledged to “rationalize” deployments, keeping missions in nations with pre‑existing agreements while prioritising domestic needs.

Host countries are scrambling to fill the gap. Angola, which relies on Cuban staff for about 20% of its rural health workforce, is accelerating local doctor training and seeking WHO assistance. Venezuela has provided limited generator support to only three of the fifteen active Cuban missions. The United Nations Development Programme has offered technical help to restore Cuba’s grid, but funding remains uncertain.