Cuban specialists in biotechnology and public health requested the assurance of access to medications and medical resources for the treatment of high blood pressure and other chronic diseases, –something that should be obvious and not require reiteration–, during a meeting with the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The proposal was made in a report released by the state channel Canal Caribe, which showed a meeting between sector experts and the president to discuss the implementation of the HEARTS project in Cuba, an initiative by the World Health Organization aimed at enhancing the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases.
During the presentation, Dr. Yamilé Valdés González, Vice President of the National Technical Advisory Commission on Hypertension, explained that the program has initially focused on this disease because it is one of the most common among adults.
The specialist indicated that the project is now evolving towards a broader approach that includes other conditions such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, preventable cancer, asthma, dental health, and mental health, an ambitious goal when the regime is unable to guarantee access to the most basic medications.
Among the mentioned results are the introduction of medications for treating hypertension, such as lisinopril, the distribution of medical equipment including approximately 25,000 sphygmomanometers manufactured by the Cuban biopharmaceutical industry, and the development of software tools for patient monitoring.
Doctor Salvador Tamayo Muñiz, head of the non-communicable diseases department at the Ministry of Public Health, stated that cardiovascular diseases currently represent the main public health issue in the country.
According to his explanation, if at least 50% of the cardiovascular risk associated with high blood pressure could be controlled, around 6,000 lives could be saved each year in Cuba, and approximately 42,000 events such as heart attacks, strokes, or severe kidney complications could be prevented—an "utopia" given the constant citizen reports about the shortage of medications in the country.
Specialists also warned about the increase in hypertension cases among the population and noted that there are nearly three million people with this condition in the country.
The meeting also acknowledged that to improve the implementation of the program, it will be necessary to increase the funding allocated for prevention, the production of medications, the manufacturing of medical equipment, and the development of scientific innovations in the health system.
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