Cuba's Medicuba S.A. accuses shipping firms of withholding essential medical supplies

Medicuba S.A., a Cuban pharmaceutical importer, reported that ten containers carrying vital medical goods were detained at the Port of Jamaica. Five containers that arrived on June 14 and 16 under bill‑of‑lading numbers CVYSHAFE386079 and EASHZ8010891 contain arteriovenous lines, fistula needles and dialyzers required for the hemodialysis of more than 3,000 patients. Three additional containers (BL GCFSZ2605028A) holding blood bags for the national health system remain held.

The company also said that the German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd has kept two containers in Cartagena, Colombia, with 500 mg sodium valproate tablets used to treat epilepsy. Medicuba warned that the prolonged lack of these medicines threatens public health and urged the immediate release of all shipments, blaming the U.S. embargo as the main obstacle to medical imports for the island.