Free medicines in Havana: Vedado deliveries require advance requests

A community network called Medicine Is Not for Sale provides free medicines in Havana to patients who cannot obtain their treatments at state pharmacies. Coordinated by Laura Mendoza, the initiative operates through donations and WhatsApp groups.

Volunteers organize deliveries in Vedado at noon on Thursdays and Sundays. Depending on available supplies, the network distributes antihistamines, diuretics, eye drops and antibiotics. Mendoza said the project maintains five WhatsApp groups in Havana and another in Guanabo.

The initiative receives medicines from humanitarian organizations in Canada and the United States, as well as from travelers and private citizens. It also receives support from Cáritas and coordinates deliveries for people who have difficulty traveling.

The network cannot meet every need. Medicines requiring refrigeration, some oncology treatments and medical supplies are among the most difficult resources to obtain. Its work depends on variable donations and cannot guarantee continuity of treatment.