Rodriguez expounded on the toll current sanctions are taking on his country’s health system, adding that some 339 million dollars are required every year to purchase the necessary medicines.

With this money, Cuba would have no difficulty treating serious chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and could purchase antibiotics and intensive care equipment, the foreign minister stated.

The diplomat also pointed out that if the US government were to suspend the blockade for just 25 days for humanitarian reasons, there would be no shortage of medicines in Cuba’s basic national system, and food and insulin for diabetics, among other things, would be imported.

The foreign minister gave all these details as part of the annual report that will be forwarded in October to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which will then proceed to vote on a Cuban resolution that has been calling for an end to this policy since 1992.

Ied/iff/ro/lld