Che’s daughter criticized U.S. blockade on medicines for Cuba

New Delhi, Jan 20 (Prensa Latina) The availability of medicines and food in Cuba is seriously affected by the blockade imposed by the United States, said in India Aleida Guevara March, one of the daughters of the legendary guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara.

January 20, 2023
CST13:52 (GMT) -0500

Published by: Ana Luisa Brown

In a speech delivered at a college in Chennai city, Dr. Guevara March said that the sanctions on medicines cause an extraordinarily difficult situation on the Caribbean island.

Eight out of 10 new generation medicines have U.S. patents. Because of the blockade, Cuba cannot acquire them.

If I have a son with a serious illness, and only that drug can save him, I have to look for five intermediaries to get it,’ he said.

Responding to a question from the audience, Guevara March listed the most important characteristics of the Cuban healthcare system and said that ‘first of all it is completely free, and we are not allowed to practice medicine privately’.

He stated that, due to the lack of medicines, Cuba seeks alternative medicines and treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture and traditional Indian medicine.

‘The United States is taking away our right to do business,’ she added.

Dr. Guevara March and her daughter Estefania received a warm welcome from the public and Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadres at the airport in Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The daughter of the legendary Argentine-Cuban revolutionary received in the southern coastal state of Kerala the international KR Gouriamma award for her struggle in defense of social causes.

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