Cuba’s Deputy PM calls in India for biotechnology cooperation

Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Enrique Martinez urged India, Latin America, and the Caribbean to strengthen South-South cooperation in biotechnology and healthcare.

Speaking at a session on healthcare partnerships, Martinez highlighted India’s infrastructure and Cuba’s advancements, suggesting collaborative projects for large-scale generic drug and biotechnological product production.

He also emphasized joint efforts to prepare for future health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Martinez cited Cuba’s success with Heberprot-P, a highly effective diabetic foot treatment reducing amputation risk by over 80% and impacting more than 30 countries, and its COVID-19 vaccines, which saved lives in Cuba and globally.

The session also featured Grenada’s Health Minister Philip Telesford, Carmen Perez (INQUIFAR, El Salvador), Luis Osorio (Woxsen University, India), and Anupama Rao Singh (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, India) as speakers.