BioCubaFarma Saves Millions of Dollars to Cuban Economy

HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 7 (acn) Cuba saved in 2015 over 1.9 billion dollars in imports of drugs, equipment, aids, prostheses, ear molds and other components of health, reported Carlos Gutierrez, director of the higher business management organization BioCubaFarma.

In the presence of Miguel Diaz-Canel, member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party and First Vice-president of the Councils of State and Ministers, Gutierrez informed about the scientific achievements of that entity.
He told deputies of the Committee on Education, Culture, Science, Technology and the Environment that BioCubaFarma aims to enhance the health of the population, and with this premise has prevented more than 12,000 amputations of various degrees with the use of Heberprot-P, the only drug of its kind in the world for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
About this medicament, Diaz-Canel highlighted the simplicity, modesty and commitment of the team that created it, and said that the product contributes more than 200 million dollars a year to the country.
Among challenges in this area, the First Vice pointed out the promotion of biotechnology development, the achievement of higher revenues, and the production and export of goods with high added value.
As part of the development of actions for the economic and social development of the island, he announced that a high-tech company, CIGB-Mariel, with one hundred percent Cuban capital, will be opened at the Mariel Special Development Zone.
Diaz-Canel highlighted the enthusiasm of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, who favored the development of science in the country, even in the most difficult moments of the Revolution.
With respect to concerns of parliamentarians on products exported and sold in the country, he reaffirmed that both have the same quality, "There is no difference," he emphasized.
In addition, he stated that these are offered at low prices in the national territory, and that the State has several mechanisms to subsidize medicines, an example of the humanist vocation of the Revolution to protect all people.
At the third meeting of this permanent working group, the director of BioCubaFarma explained that the company is currently working on 450 research projects, with emphasis on solving conditions associated with the main causes leading to death in Cuba, including myocardial infarction and different types of cancer.
The Council of Ministers, by way of Decree 307 of November 27, 2012, approved the creation of the Group of Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries, BioCubaFarma, which is essentially formed from the union of the entities belonging to the Scientific Area of the city and the business group QUIMEFA.
The mission of this organization is to produce medicines, equipment and high-tech services aimed at improving the health of the people and the generation of exportable goods and services as a result of the scientific and technical development achieved by the Caribbean island.