Speaking on the second day of the high-level event between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean, Lage, who is an advisor to the Presidency of BioCubaFarma, considered that the economic, commercial, and financial siege imposed by Washington more than six decades ago is a severe challenge for an essential industry in human health.
The Cuban scientist pointed out that the BioCubaFarma group, comprised of more than 30 state-owned companies and 20,000 workers, provides 62 percent of Cuba’s key medicine list and exports products to 41 countries.
This US blockade has been tightened amid the Covid-19 pandemic, warned the renowned scientist, who is also former director of the Havana-based Center for Molecular Immunology.
According to Lage, despite the aggressiveness of the resurgent US policy, Cuba has managed to insert itself in the world with its biotechnological-pharmaceutical development, contributing with equitable access to health products.
He mentioned that Cuba exports medical products to more than 40 countries, has about 700 registrations in 53 countries, conducts clinical trials in several countries, including Europe, has joint ventures in Germany, China, Spain, Singapore, and Thailand, and has transferred technology to Brazil, China, Spain, India, and Thailand.
For Lage, scientific and industrial cooperation should prevail for the contributions of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry to the human right to health.
At Thursday’s EU, Latin America, and Caribbean Forum, Lage proposed joint projects as of that vision, allowing both sides to face current challenges, including the fight against cancer and future ones, particularly chronic neurological diseases.
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