China has consolidated its position as the main supplier of medical supplies for Cuba’s healthcare system after the signing of five medical services contracts between the two countries, official media reported this Thursday.
The cooperation emerged during the international event Cuba Salud 2025, which concluded this Thursday in Havana.
Within the framework of the meeting, 15 agreements were also signed between Chinese companies and Cuban Medical Services Marketing Agency (CMSMA) with the aim of promoting health tourism on the island, according to Prensa Latina news agency.
Some 20 companies from the Asian giant participated in this edition of Cuba Salud, the sector’s largest scientific-business event in the country.
Cuban Public Health Minister José Angel Portal Miranda emphasized Cuba’s willingness “to continue strengthening, diversifying, and deepening cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in the field of health.”
During the event, it was revealed that a total of 666 Chinese professionals had been trained in Cuba until 2018, as a sign of bilateral academic exchange and institutional cooperation, reported Prensa Latina.
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This year, the event was dedicated to China, one of Cuba’s closest political allies and second-largest trading partner.
Although each of the agreements was not detailed, it was learned that one of the new projects proposes the creation of a medical university in the Chinese province of Hebei with an integrated hospital that will combine artificial intelligence with Cuban clinical knowledge.
China, Cuba’s ally in the health sector
Cuba Salud 2025 brought together nearly 3,000 delegates from 50 countries and featured a trade fair and several simultaneous conferences.
As previously announced by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, several Chinese companies were seeking cooperation and business agreements on health issues during the event.
Earlier this week, Armando Garrido, president of MEDICuba, had emphasized that the fair would be “the sector’s most important trade fair, where we will host approximately 11 Chinese companies.” However, the number of Chinese companies at the event was higher, according to EFE news agency.
The event once again highlights Cuba’s commitment to health and biotechnology as strategic sectors, given the economic difficulties the country is facing.
During the pandemic, Cuba managed to develop and administer its own Covid-19 vaccines, which have been used in various countries.
However, the deep economic crisis has affected the availability of supplies and medicines, weakening the reach of the public health system, which the Cuban government considers a fundamental right.
Thus, in this scenario, China has become a key partner, not only with medical supplies and food, but also with the shipment of photovoltaic units to mitigate the island’s energy crisis.
