Cuba's health care system pushed to the brink by US fuel blockade, Cuban minister says

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s debilitated health care system has been pushed to the brink of collapse by the U.S. blockading the country’s oil supply, a Cuban official said Friday.

The country’s medical system was already perpetually crisis-stricken along with the island’s economy, with lack of supplies, staff and medicine long being the norm. But the turmoil has reached a new extreme in recent weeks. Ambulances are struggling to find fuel to respond to emergencies. Persistent outages have plagued deteriorated hospitals. Flights bringing vital supplies have been suspended as Cuba’s government says it’s now unable to refuel airplanes in its airports.

Experts and some leaders of other countries have warned that the island could be on the verge of a humanitarian crisis.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Cuba’s Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda said that U.S. sanctions are no longer just crippling the island's economy, they're threatening “basic human safety.”

“You cannot damage a state’s economy without affecting its inhabitants,” Portal said. “This situation could put lives at risk.”

According to Portal, 5 million people in Cuba living with chronic illnesses will see their medications or treatments affected. This includes 16,000 cancer patients requiring radiotherapy and another 12,400 undergoing chemotherapy.

Cardiovascular care, orthopedics, oncology and treatment for critically ill patients who require electrical backup are among the most impacted areas, he said. Kidney disease treatments and emergency ambulance services have also been added to the list of impacted services.

The energy crisis Cuba has been grappling with for years entered new extremes last month when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. It came just weeks after Trump deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and announced no more Venezuelan oil would go to Cuba.

Cuba, which produces only 40% of its own fuel and largely depends on oil to power the island, has long relied on allies like Venezuela, Mexico and Russia to fill its energy deficit. But those shipments have now dried up.

Trump has openly said that his larger hope is to push regime change in Cuba by intensifying economic pressure on the island, which has already struggled to cope with decades of U.S. sanctions.

Cuban people — who the U.S. government has said it seeks to defend — are the ones feeling the harsh ripple effects of the U.S. fuel blockade as hardship mounts every day. Buses have slashed routes, gas has been put under strict rationing and is only being sold in foreign currency, and endemic blackouts have reached a new extreme.

“There’s been a drastic change since January,” said Aniliet Rodríguez, a 25-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted that month to a maternal care center for an extreme case of anemia. “There’s no bread, no milk for nutrition … . There are no medicines.”

Cuba's health care system follows a universal and free model, providing local clinics on nearly every block and state subsidized medicine. But it's also entered a state of crisis in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of doctors being paid state wages that can hardly afford them a carton of eggs have emigrated from the country and hospitals have rapidly deteriorated.

Medicine shortages have forced many to buy them on the black market instead.

Such problems are expected to worsen in the coming weeks even though Cuba's government has struggled to adjust to the new reality, Portal said. Solar panels have been installed in clinics while authorities prioritize care to children and the elderly.

But he also said they have placed restrictions on some more energy-reliant technologies like CT scans and laboratory tests, noting doctors will have to rely on more basic methods to treat patients, effectively cutting many off from high levels of care.

"We are facing an energy siege with direct implications for the lives of Cubans, for the lives of Cuban families," Portal said.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Jorge Elias speaks with the doctor after his radiotherapy session at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Niala Gonzalez, a cancer patient is kissed by her mother at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Doctors assist in a birth at the Ramón González Coro Maternity Hospital in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Jorge Elias speaks with the doctor after his radiotherapy session at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Niala Gonzalez, a cancer patient is kissed by her mother at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Carolina Silva Matos, a cancer patient, rests in a hospital bed at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Doctors assist in a birth at the Ramón González Coro Maternity Hospital in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A doctor hands Daimara de la Fe Viera her newborn baby at the Ramón González Coro Maternity Hospital in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuba's Minister of Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, poses at the ministry's entrance in Havana, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Daimara de la Fe Viera sits in an operating room before her cesarean delivery at the Ramón González Coro Maternity Hospital in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A man rides his bicycle at sunset in Havana, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

State-run bodega manager Roberto Roman carries bags of donated Mexican humanitarian assistance to be delivered to a family, in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

People walk past a mural of Che Guevara in Havana, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

VICTORIA, British Columbia & VANCOUVER, British Columbia & PRAGUE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2026--

Vecima Networks Inc., Incognito Software Systems Inc., and BM COM s.r.o., today announced a strategic collaboration to deliver a fully integrated, turnkey fiber broadband solution, which will be showcased at ANGA COM 2026, May 19–21 in Cologne, Germany.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260513492655/en/

The joint solution brings together best-in-class fiber access infrastructure, advanced service orchestration, and in-market deployment expertise into a unified, interoperable Broadband-in-a-Box platform without requiring single vendor lock-in. Designed to simplify and accelerate fiber broadband rollouts, the solution enables operators—particularly regional and emerging providers—to deploy scalable, high-performance networks with reduced complexity and faster time to revenue.

The joint Vecima, Incognito, and BM COM Broadband-in-a-Box solution integrates:

By aligning across the network stack—from access infrastructure to OSS and customer lifecycle management—the partnership delivers a seamless, multi-vendor architecture built on Broadband Forum industry standards that is open, interoperable, and ready for rapid deployment.

“Operators today need solutions that reduce complexity while accelerating service delivery,” said Ryan Nicometo, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Vecima Networks. “Through our collaboration with Incognito and BM COM, we’re combining high-performance access infrastructure with powerful automation and local expertise to deliver a complete, scalable solution that meets operators where they are in their network evolution without the need for expensive single vendor lock-in.”

“Broadband service providers are increasingly looking for tightly integrated solutions that streamline operations from provisioning through lifecycle management,” said Gary Knee, CEO at Incognito. “By integrating our suite of service activation, device management, and DHCP solutions with Vecima’s fiber access platforms and BM COM’s deployment expertise, we’re enabling a more automated, efficient, and customer-centric broadband experience.”

“Successful broadband deployments require more than technology—they require execution,” said David Mansfeld, Managing Partner at BM COM. “BM COM’s role is to bring these solutions to life in-market, providing system integration, local support, and hands-on expertise to ensure operators can deploy quickly and operate with confidence.”

Together, the companies will demonstrate how this unified approach enables operators to simplify multi-vendor environments, accelerate fiber expansion, and deliver reliable, high-quality broadband services.

The collaboration will be showcased live at ANGA COM 2026 in Cologne, Germany, Vecima Stand A20 in Hall 8, and the Incognito Stand D30 in Hall 7, located in the Broadband Forum Pavilion, where attendees can experience the end-to-end solution in action and engage directly with experts from all three companies.

About Vecima Networks

Vecima Networks Inc. (TSX: VCM) is leading the global evolution to the multi-gigabit, content-rich networks of the future. Our talented people deliver future-ready software, services, and integrated platforms that power broadband and video streaming networks, monitor and manage transportation, and transform experiences in homes, businesses, and everywhere people connect. We help our customers evolve their networks with cloud-based solutions that deliver ground-breaking speed, superior video quality, and exciting new services to their subscribers. There is power in connectivity – it enables people, businesses, and communities to grow and thrive. Learn more at vecima.com.

About Incognito Software Systems

Incognito Software Systems Inc. provides service orchestration software and services that help digital service providers manage the next-generation broadband experience. Founded over 30 years ago, Incognito has over 200 customers worldwide, including America Movil, Cox, Digicel, Globe, and Orange, leveraging its solutions to fast-track the introduction of innovative broadband services over fiber and 5G fixed wireless access technologies while delivering a great customer experience. Incognito is a Lumine Group company (TSXV: LMN). Learn more at www.luminegroup.com. Visit www.incognito.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

About BM COM

BM COM delivers telco-grade TR-069 device management platforms, TR-369 USP (User Services Platform), and smart infrastructure monitoring solutions for elevators and IoT devices to enterprises, service providers, and building operators. Our solutions give you full control, visibility, and intelligence over your assets, while keeping your data secure. We deliver robust on-premise solutions, while also offering scalable Cloud and SaaS services to meet evolving business needs. Backed by extensive industry expertise and a proven track record, BM COM ensures reliable, future-ready deployments that drive performance and growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Vecima’s business strategies and objectives, and the anticipated benefits, performance, capabilities, availability, or adoption of its products and services. Such statements reflect current expectations and assumptions about future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Vecima undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law.

Vecima, Incognito, and BM COM Announce Turnkey Fiber Broadband Solutions at ANGA COM 2026