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The shortage of raw materials and the collapse of the pharmaceutical production system have led Cuba to invest in plant extracts and natural products as an alternative to supply essential medicines.
According to the official newspaper Granma, the Laboratory of Oral Liquid Medicines and Powders Company (Medilip), located in Granma province, is expanding its line of natural products and implementing new extraction technologies in an effort to address the crisis in the biopharmaceutical industry.
The director of Medilip, Efrén Vladimir Rodríguez Lora, explained that the strategy aims to leverage local resources in light of the shortage of imported supplies, through productive linkages with scientific centers and universities.
In other words: when there is no bread (medication), one has no choice but to eat cassava (natural medicine), the latter being very useful but it should not be the only option for treating illnesses.
"The entity has taken on a leading role in the production of natural alternatives, such as repellents and cold syrups made from cañandonga and onion, and is now moving towards greater diversification," Rodríguez stated.
Among the products manufactured by Medilip, notable items include syrups of oregano, eucalyptus, sacred cane, and aloe vera, in addition to melitose with vitamin C and propolis.
They also produce shampoos based on aloe, chamomile, and hibiscus, and are developing new lines with products derived from garlic, guava, and mulberry.
The laboratory applies methods such as steam distillation and turbo maceration, used in the study of various plant species, with the aim of scientifically validating the extracts and transforming them into a new line of natural products endorsed by the University of Granma.
Although the official discourse presents these initiatives as a scientific achievement, the shift towards plant-based medicines reflects the deep crisis of the Cuban pharmaceutical industry, which is impacted by a lack of foreign exchange, technological obsolescence, and dependency on foreign raw materials.
Medilip was recognized during the Day of Cuban Science as a "distinguished company" for its work in development and innovation, in a context where most of the medications in the national essential drug list continue to be scarce or distributed irregularly in the country's pharmacies.
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