Cuba receives new donation of medicines from India

Indian Ambassador Armstrong Changsan on Wednesday received and delivered to Cuban authorities the third shipment of medicines donated by the Indian Government and people in a gesture of solidarity.

“I am happy that India can assist Cuba in these critical times, especially with a donation of medicines among other products,” Ambassador Armstrong Changsan said in an interview with Prensa Latina.

“As you may know, India is the so-called Pharmacy of the World, because it produces enormous quantities of medicines and vaccines, which it supplies to the entire world,” the diplomat noted.

This is the third donation of this kind of four delivered by the Indian Government. The first one arrived in January by air -as this one did- while the second and fourth are coming by ship because they are very bulky, Ambassador Changsan explained.

Those that will arrive by sea will do so in April and May, respectively, the diplomat informed.

This shipment contains, among others, medicines for circulation, such as Heparin, anesthetics (Profosol), antibiotics (Ceftriaxone), corticosteroids (Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone), ampules of Magnesia Sulfate, Tranexamic Acid and Sodium Bicarbonate.

After the arrival of the first donation of medicines in January, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez thanked India for the humanitarian gesture, which he described as “an example of the friendship that exists between the two nations.”

That shipment included antibiotics, antipyretics, analgesics, oral solutions and muscle relaxants for the provinces affected by Hurricane Rafael last November.

In June 2024, Indian authorities also sent 90 tons of nine active pharmaceutical ingredients to Cuba for the production of essential antibiotics, valued at 10 million euros.

The shipment was delivered to one of the BioCubaFarma Group laboratories to manufacture medicines demanded by the Cuban population, such as Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Cefixime in capsules and suspension; injectable drugs such as Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime and Ceftazidime, with a coverage of six to 12 months.

Changsan took advantage of that opportunity to affirm that “the delivery of the donation is an example of the brotherhood between both nations for six decades, based on respect and shared points of view on economic and political matters.”

Cuba has maintained diplomatic ties with India for 65 years. India is one of the first Asian nations to recognize and establish relations with the Cuban State after the revolutionary triumph of 1959.

At the ceremony for the anniversary of bilateral ties (officialized on January 12, 1960), Ambassador Changsan highlighted the cooperation and friendship that has characterized these six and a half decades.

The ambassador stated at the time, “We value our solid bilateral relationship and hope to continue to work together to address common challenges and explore new avenues of cooperation in the coming years.”

India is one of Cuba’s top 20 trading partners and among 32 million dollars in exports during the 2023-2024 period, pharmaceutical and chemical products predominated, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce of India.

In addition to bilateral agreements in various fields, New Delhi has granted Cuba important lines of credit for the execution of projects in the agricultural and renewable energy sectors.