AGP Executive Report

Medical Education Crisis: A Mexican lawmaker is urging Mexico’s president to help 15 medical students/trainees in Cuba finish cardiology, pulmonology and traumatology programs, saying power cuts and daily hardship have made their training “unsustainable” and could cost them years. Food Insecurity Contrast: A viral tourist post highlights the gap between Cuban households struggling to eat and hotel buffets stocked for visitors, with hunger rates reported as widespread. Energy Strain on Health Training: Medical students in Pinar del Río and Granma are demanding changes to final exams, arguing prolonged blackouts and deteriorating teaching conditions leave them unprepared. Medical Supply Shortage: Ecuador customs opened an administrative probe after seizing 1,230 undeclared colostomy bags arriving from Cuba—medical devices that underscore ongoing scarcity on the island. Public Health at Street Level: In Havana, residents are hiring improvised guards and posting fines to stop illegal dumping that has grown into block-sized dumpsites, raising local health concerns amid fuel shortages. Human Rights Update: Cuban teenager Jonathan Muir, held in an adult prison over “sabotage,” has been released after months of detention.

Sanctions Tighten on GAESA: Cuban activist Rosa María Payá backed new U.S. sanctions aimed at GAESA, calling it the regime’s “strongbox” that funds repression while Cubans face hunger and blackouts. Energy Crisis & Health Services: Mexico is working on a mechanism to resume oil shipments to Cuba via private firms, as Cuba’s fuel shortage keeps worsening daily life and health care operations. Solar Power for Care: Holguín is installing 300+ photovoltaic systems with Canadian support, including solar water heaters for pediatric and other health and social care sites. Protests Over Daily Hardship: Residents in Guanabo and elsewhere are escalating protests over blackouts and water shortages, with complaints going beyond electricity to basic services. IACHR Pushes for Maykel Osorbo: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights demanded Cuba overturn the nine-year sentence of artist Maykel Castillo Osorbo and investigate enforced disappearance. OAS Calls for Prisoner Releases: The OAS urged Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to release political prisoners and restore democratic commitments. Missing Woman Case: Family of a Cuban woman missing in Guyana after leaving for work is seeking public help. Reform Under Pressure: Cuba’s sweeping economic reforms are framed as urgent, risky survival moves amid severe scarcity and intensified U.S. sanctions.

Sanctions Pressure: The U.S. hit five Cuban state entities tied to GAESA and other state firms, a move analysts say will chill foreign investment and worsen shortages. Human Rights: The IACHR urged Cuba to overturn artist Maykel ‘Osorbo’’s nine-year sentence and investigate an enforced disappearance. Regional Diplomacy: The OAS called for the release of political prisoners in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela and offered election monitoring. Energy & Care Access: In Holguín, Canada-backed solar projects are expanding to keep health and social care sites running, including 24-hour electricity and solar water heaters. Health System Strain: Nurses at Jamaica’s UHWI staged a silent protest over staffing gaps and missing lifesaving equipment—highlighting how shortages ripple into patient outcomes. Religious Life Under Blackouts: Cuban sisters say electricity limits their ministry work, including producing hosts for parishes, as fuel restrictions deepen the humanitarian squeeze. Travel & Logistics: Cuba’s rail operator says fuel shortages have slashed regular service, but special summer trains will add limited options for students, workers and patients.

Cuban healthcare under strain: A Cuban man says he couldn’t get tests because the hospital had no water one day and no electricity the next—an example of how power cuts are crippling labs and imaging and even water pumping at facilities like Villa Clara’s Arnaldo Milián Castro Provincial Hospital. Caregiver impact: A mother of a child with cerebral palsy describes blackouts as a daily emergency—no warning, heat and mosquitoes, and her daughter crying in sweat when fans stop. Energy for health services: Canada-backed “Former Project” installed 344 photovoltaic systems in Holguín, bringing some health and social care sites closer to 24-hour power, including solar water heaters for pediatric and maternity-related facilities. Policy pressure: The U.S. announced new sanctions on Cuban state entities tied to GAESA, warning they could spook investors and deepen the island’s economic crisis—conditions that directly worsen access to medicine and care. Misinformation risk: Cienfuegos’ health department posted a false claim that Cristiano Ronaldo donated solar panels to Cuba’s most vulnerable communities, then removed it.

Fake Health Propaganda: Cuba’s Cienfuegos Health Directorate posted a false claim that Cristiano Ronaldo donated 250 solar panels to help vulnerable communities, then removed it after backlash. Energy Crisis Impacts Care: Havana’s Discalced Carmelites say electricity shortages are disrupting their religious mission, including producing hosts for parishes, with rationing fears tied to fuel blockages. Humanitarian Strain in Las Tunas: A leukemia patient and her son in Majibacoa, Las Tunas, are reportedly surviving in extreme poverty without government help, prompting calls for food, hygiene, and pain medication donations. Asylum Pressure in Brazil: Cubans have surged to lead asylum applications in Brazil, with 2025 applications nearly doubling from 2024 and continuing to rise in early 2026. Healthcare Reconstruction Debate: Exiled medical groups and Solidaridad Sin Fronteras/Cruz Verde Internacional unveiled “911 Cuba,” a plan to rebuild Cuba’s healthcare system after a political shift, alongside earlier claims about how investors would benefit. Energy Supply Moves: Mexico says it will restart oil shipments to Cuba using private companies to ease a worsening fuel shortage.

Fuel & Health Access: Nuns in Havana say Cuba’s electricity shortages are disrupting religious health-related services, including producing hosts with electric equipment, as fuel blockages deepen daily strain. Humanitarian Crisis: As fuel shortages worsen, Cuba’s humanitarian fallout continues—aid delivery and basic supplies remain fragile, with faith groups stepping in to keep ministries running. Medical Supply Breakdown: Patients in Camagüey have reportedly been without hemodialysis for almost a week due to lack of supplies, highlighting how power and logistics failures hit chronic care hardest. Public Health & Childhood: Cuba’s government links intensifying U.S. blockade to surging child mortality and medicine shortages, framing the crisis as worsening health outcomes. Coral Resilience for Wellness: A new study points to climate-resilient coral areas that include Cuba, offering hope for protecting marine ecosystems that support food and coastal health. Caregiving Under Pressure: A Holguín family says a young machete-attack survivor has lacked government assistance for over a year, with postponed surgery and urgent mobility needs. Policy Context: Cuba’s leadership reiterates “urgent changes” amid sanctions, while the wider week also includes reports of major economic reforms aimed at stabilizing services.

Cuba’s Health Crisis Under Strain: A new report says Cuba’s regime influence in Colombia expanded during Gustavo Petro’s government, including health cooperation deals and a promised yellow fever vaccine donation that never materialized—raising fresh questions about public health commitments. Care Access in Jeopardy: In Camagüey, patients reportedly went nearly a week without hemodialysis due to a lack of supplies, underscoring how shortages hit essential services first. Blackouts Fuel Hardship: Residents in Havana protested after long electricity outages, saying they had no way to cook and that the crisis is “unbearable and unsustainable,” with power returning briefly then cutting again. Medication Shortages Turn Dangerous: A Cuban mother with autistic children and a heart condition says she was nearly assaulted while trying to find Carvedilol, unavailable in state pharmacies. Policy Pressure and Health Cooperation: Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez again rejected claims about a U.S. fuel blockade, saying Washington’s “economic suffocation” plan also targets health cooperation and essential energy parts.

Health & Care Access: Camagüey’s Manuel Ascunce Domenech Provincial Hospital nearly ran out of hemodialysis supplies, leaving dozens of kidney patients without treatment for almost a week after acid concentrate and bicarbonate ran out. Public Health Under Strain: Aidelis Arencibia, a Cuban mother of autistic children with a heart condition, described a frightening near-assault while trying to find Carvedilol that isn’t available in state pharmacies. Policy & Humanitarian Impact: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez again rejected U.S. claims about fuel restrictions, calling the “total blockade” a suffocation plan that blocks parts and technology needed for thermoelectric plants and targets CUPET. System Pressure & Daily Life: Protests in Havana’s Centro Habana flared after more than 40 hours without electricity, with residents demanding answers and linking the crisis to broader political frustration. Reforms With Health Implications: Cuba’s lawmakers adopted sweeping free-market reforms (176 measures) aimed at decentralizing the economy and attracting investment as the blockade deepens.

Medication Access & Safety: A Cuban mother with three autistic children and a heart condition says she was nearly assaulted while searching for Carvedilol, a drug her cardiologist prescribed but that is unavailable in state pharmacies. Dialysis Crisis: In Camagüey, dozens of kidney patients reportedly went nearly a week without hemodialysis after the Manuel Ascunce Domenech Provincial Hospital ran out of key dialysis chemicals (acid concentrate and bicarbonate). Public Health Under Strain: The dialysis shortage highlights how medicine supply gaps can quickly become life-or-death emergencies for chronic patients. Healthcare System Scrutiny: A foreign doctor’s Havana video sparked outrage after Cubans accused him of living in “a parallel world” while locals struggle with basic needs. Diplomacy & Blockade Claims: Cuba’s foreign minister renewed accusations that the U.S. is enforcing a “total fuel blockade,” arguing it blocks parts and technology needed for Cuba’s power and health cooperation. Economic Reform Context: Lawmakers approved sweeping free-market reforms, framed as urgent steps to stabilize the economy under U.S. pressure—changes that could affect health services indirectly.

Economic Reform Shock: Cuba’s National Assembly approved 176 sweeping free-market measures—the biggest overhaul since 1959—aimed at decentralizing the planned economy, expanding private business, allowing imports/exports without state intermediation, enabling private hiring and banking, and letting Cubans abroad invest; fast-food chains are even on the table. Power and Implementation Questions: Prime Minister Manuel Marrero laid out the package as urgent “strategic impact” reforms, but analysts and residents warn implementation could be slow, especially as blackouts and shortages continue. Health and Daily-Life Pressure: The reforms land amid a worsening humanitarian squeeze tied to tightened U.S. fuel and economic pressure, with Cubans reporting that without electricity and purchasing power, the changes may not quickly improve everyday access to essentials. Diaspora and Skepticism: Overseas Cubans are directly targeted with new opportunities, while exiles and business figures remain divided—some see a path forward, others say the moves are too late and driven by Washington. Humanitarian Aid Snapshot: Separate reporting highlights how fuel shortages still complicate relief delivery, with Catholic groups providing medical check-ups and supplies to hurricane victims.

Economic Reform Shock: Cuba’s National Assembly has approved 176 sweeping free-market reforms—aimed at decentralizing the economy, expanding private enterprise, allowing private and foreign capital in banking and energy, and enabling share sales in state companies—after a fast-track process amid fuel, food, and medicine shortages. Health & Daily-Life Pressure: The reforms land as Cubans report worsening daily conditions tied to the U.S. oil blockade and sanctions, with observers warning the changes may not quickly improve ordinary people’s lives. Agriculture Overhaul: A major slice of the package targets the food crisis, expanding usufruct rights, loosening land-management rules, and giving cooperatives and producers more commercial freedom. Tourism Fallout: Separate coverage highlights how U.S. pressure has helped collapse Cuba tourism, with airlines and hotel operators suspending or halting activity—further squeezing health-linked public services. Humanitarian Response: Faith groups are stepping up to deliver aid and influence policy as the crisis deepens.

Cuba’s sweeping reforms: Cuba’s National Assembly unanimously approved 176 economic and social measures to expand private enterprise, cut state control, and attract investment, including allowing foreign investors to skip joint ventures with state firms and letting large private companies operate in more sectors; Healthcare pressure: the reforms come as Cubans report shortages of food, fuel, drinking water, and medicines plus frequent power cuts, with Díaz-Canel calling for “urgent changes” and acknowledging the model was long sustained by external support; Policy and diplomacy: Díaz-Canel told lawmakers Cuba is open to respectful dialogue with Washington but rejects pressure and the blockade, while the European Parliament urged EU sanctions and suspension of cooperation over repression and poverty; Public health watch: separate global health coverage flags Oropouche (“sloth fever”) as potentially infecting far more people than official figures show, raising the stakes for surveillance and care.

Cuba’s sweeping free-market overhaul: Cuban lawmakers unanimously approved nearly 200 reforms to roll back the state’s role in the economy, including allowing private banks, bigger private firms, and foreign investors to take stakes—moves framed as the biggest shift since 1959 and aimed at surviving U.S. pressure. Health under strain: Coverage links the crisis to worsening daily conditions, including long power cuts and shortages that are hitting healthcare capacity and public health outcomes. Urgent leadership admission: President Miguel Díaz-Canel told the Communist Party that “urgent changes” are needed and pointed to obstacles beyond the U.S. oil blockade, citing models from China and Vietnam. Electricity reliability warning: Santiago de Cuba’s power utility admitted it can’t meet its blackout schedule and may restore service for some areas for up to two hours—raising fears of even longer outages. EU sanctions push: The European Parliament voted to condemn repression and poverty in Cuba, calling for profound reforms, release of political prisoners, and sanctions/suspension of cooperation. Community health logistics: A Havana waste-and-recycling pilot in Vedado adds door-to-door collection with electric tricycles and fixed pickup times, aiming to improve sanitation and public health conditions.

Sanctions and child health crisis: The UN human rights chief says U.S. blockade-linked shortages are driving child deaths in Cuba, citing doubled infant mortality (to about 9.9 per 1,000 births) and a drop in childhood cancer survival (from 85% to 65%) as doctors lack essential medicines. Healthcare strain at UNICEF: Cuba also told UNICEF that intensified U.S. restrictions and energy limits are worsening pediatric care, with infant mortality rising sharply in recent years and cancer treatment outcomes affected by medicine shortages. Economic reform push with health stakes: President Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted “urgent changes” are needed beyond blaming the oil blockade, as Cuba’s Communist Party approved fast-track reforms to expand private activity and attract investment; lawmakers are set to vote, with Raul Castro backing the package. Transport curbs hitting access to care: New inter-city travel restrictions reserve scarce trains and buses for the sick and emergencies, with routes running far less often—raising concerns for timely hospital visits. EU pressure on rights and health: The European Parliament is set to vote on suspending cooperation with Cuba unless major democratic and prisoner-release steps are taken, amid warnings of a worsening humanitarian and health emergency.

Sanctions and child health: The UN human rights chief says U.S. sanctions are driving child deaths in Cuba, citing doubled infant mortality and worse outcomes for childhood cancer as doctors lack essential medicines. Transport squeeze: New “priority system” rules restrict inter-city travel, with Havana-to-east trains running every 16 days and buses just 1–3 times weekly, reserving seats for the sick and emergencies. Economic reform push: Cuba’s Communist Party and National Assembly convened extraordinary sessions to fast-track economic measures, including expanding private activity, attracting capital from Cubans abroad, and shrinking the state. Tourism fallout: Cayman Airways suspends its Havana route as Cuba’s tourism keeps sliding, with shortages and blackouts linked to the fuel blockade. Humanitarian aid logistics: A Cuba–U.S. humanitarian aid plan would route funds through the Catholic Church and trusted NGOs, but delivery is hampered by lack of gasoline and other basics. Healthcare at the center: The week also highlighted families’ medical desperation amid power cuts and medicine shortages, including a widely shared farewell from a mother after her child’s illness.

Sanctions and child health: The UN’s top human-rights official says U.S. sanctions are driving a worsening health emergency in Cuba, with infant mortality reportedly doubling and childhood cancer survival falling as doctors face shortages of essential medicines and supplies. Policy pressure and reforms: Cuba’s Communist Party called an unscheduled plenary and the National Assembly met to follow up, as President Díaz-Canel pushes economic reforms meant to expand private activity, attract investment (including from Cubans abroad), and ease the crisis intensified by the U.S. energy blockade. Tourism hit: Cuba reports foreign arrivals down sharply in early 2026, citing tightened U.S. sanctions that have left hotels and airlines pulling back. Pharma strain: BioCubaFarma says the blockade is blocking access to raw materials for hundreds of key medicines, forcing a shift toward emergency and critical-care production. Power and daily life: Reports describe blackouts and shortages continuing to disrupt basic services, while Cuba’s historic housing stock remains at risk, leaving families in unsafe conditions. Humanitarian and care: A renovated Little Havana home will shelter homeless pregnant women and mothers with infants, offering free housing and support services.