WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Medical Association (NMA), the nation’s leading voice for Black physicians and health equity, is sounding the alarm over a growing public health crisis in Cuba, warning that current conditions are placing vulnerable populations at serious risk.
In a recent statement, the NMA expressed deep concern about the strain on Cuba’s healthcare system, citing ongoing power outages, fuel shortages and limited access to essential medical supplies. The organization emphasized that these conditions are disrupting critical services and delaying care for thousands of patients.
The concerns follow discussions between NMA President Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr. and Cuban Ambassador Tanieris Diéguez, highlighting the international scope of the issue and the need for greater attention from the global medical community.
According to the NMA, more than 96,000 patients in Cuba are currently waiting for surgical procedures, including thousands of children. Hospitals and clinics are facing repeated electrical outages that interfere with life-saving treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy, neonatal care and emergency surgeries.
Fuel shortages have further complicated the situation, affecting ambulance services, the transportation of healthcare workers and the distribution of medications. The instability of electricity has also raised concerns about the safe storage of vaccines and other temperature-sensitive treatments.
For the NMA, these challenges go beyond infrastructure. They represent a broader issue of health equity and human rights.
“The NMA affirms that health is a human right,” the organization said in its statement, underscoring its longstanding mission to advocate for equitable care both in the United States and globally.
Founded to represent Black physicians and address disparities in healthcare, the NMA has historically taken positions on issues that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Leaders say the situation in Cuba reflects many of the same inequities the organization has worked to combat for decades.
Shortages of antibiotics, nutritional supplements and basic medical supplies are contributing to worsening maternal and infant health outcomes, according to the NMA. Delays in routine vaccinations and limited access to care are raising concerns about preventable illness and long-term public health consequences.
“These are not just policy issues. They are matters of life and death,” the organization noted, pointing to increased risks of morbidity and mortality when healthcare systems are unable to function at full capacity.
The NMA is calling for immediate action, including the removal of policy barriers that contribute to the crisis and greater collaboration among international health organizations to ensure access to medical resources.
As an organization rooted in advocacy, the NMA says it stands in solidarity with healthcare professionals in Cuba who are working under increasingly difficult conditions. It also urged policy makers to consider the humanitarian impact of decisions that affect civilian populations, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
The crisis has also drawn attention to the resilience of Cuba’s medical and scientific community, which has long been recognized for innovation despite limited resources. However, experts warn that continued disruptions could have lasting effects on both patient care and medical research.
For the National Medical Association, the issue reinforces a broader message: access to healthcare should not be determined by geography, politics or circumstance.
As global conversations around health equity continue, the organization says it remains committed to advocating for policies that protect patient care, preserve human dignity and uphold the fundamental principles of public health—both at home and abroad.
