BATABANO, Cuba — Cuba’s healthcare system is facing a deepening crisis as shortages of medical supplies, equipment failures, and fuel rationing increasingly hamper patient care across the island. These challenges stem from longstanding economic difficulties worsened by recent tightening of U.S. sanctions targeting Cuba’s energy sector.

Patients requiring advanced diagnostics and treatment have been particularly affected. Irisleydis Tristá, 34, who has undergone two surgeries and radiation therapy to treat a tumor, has been unable to receive a follow-up CT scan for the past seven months due to a broken machine at Havana’s Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, the country’s premier medical facility. Cuban doctors told Tristá that lack of resources means further surgery in Cuba is currently not an option. “I feel like my life is in danger,” said Tristá, who lives in Batabanó, a town roughly 43 miles south of Havana.

Hospitals nationwide are reporting shortages of essential supplies including syringes, gauze, vaccines, and anesthetics. Equipment breakdowns, such as hemodialysis and CT scan machines, are common yet repairs are delayed by unavailability of spare parts. The prolonged power outages—reaching over 20 hours daily—and stringent fuel rationing have intensified the crisis, impeding patient transportation as well as the operation of medical facilities.

Medical professionals have also been leaving Cuba in significant numbers, further straining the system. The country’s economic challenges predate the current crisis, with pandemic-related disruption and historical difficulties already weighing heavily on resources. The situation deteriorated notably after the beginning of the year when U.S. authorities captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, reducing Cuba’s access to a key ally and triggering heightened U.S. sanctions against third parties supplying fuel to the island.

Health indicators that once rivaled those of developed countries—such as low mortality rates, high life expectancy, broad immunization coverage, and comprehensive prenatal care—are now under threat. Mario Cruz Peñate, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Cuba, described the disruptions as “quite large,” extending beyond direct medical services to affect the entire care continuum. He also noted that international organizations have faced difficulties providing humanitarian aid due to logistical constraints.

In response, the United Nations launched a $94 million emergency plan in March to alleviate the impact of the energy crisis on Cuba’s healthcare system. Despite these efforts, health outcomes have worsened. A government report from June revealed a significant drop in survival rates for children with cancer, falling from 85% prior to the sanctions to 65% afterward.

At Havana’s National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, pediatric oncologist Yolainy Romero reported that two children have already died this year due to the deteriorating conditions. She highlighted the difficulty faced by patients who must travel long distances for treatment, often delayed by fuel shortages that prevent timely hospital visits. One parent, Adriana Felipe García, traveled approximately 217 miles from Sancti Spíritus with her 4-year-old daughter for cancer treatment, underscoring the logistical hardships families face.

As Cuba continues to grapple with these compounded crises, the nation’s healthcare system—long a point of pride—remains under severe strain, raising concerns over the future of patient care.