CubaPLUS Magazine

Cuba's Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (Cecmed) is today a leading authority in Latin America and worldwide for its work in establishing regulatory frameworks and fostering international cooperation.

This assessment was exclusively confirmed to Prensa Latina by Judith Rius, Director of the Department of Innovation and Access to Medicines and Health Technologies at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), during the 5th International Convention Cuba Salud 2025.

Rius, who is participating in the upcoming two-day "International Regulatory Symposium: Incentivizing Local Production through More Efficient Regulation" at the Havana Convention Center, emphasized that Cecmed is one of eight regulatory bodies in the region with which PAHO collaborates and has established itself as a continental leader.

She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with this Cuban institution and acknowledged the value of events like Cuba Salud 2025, which allow the world to gain firsthand insight into the Caribbean nation's work in regulating pharmaceutical products, equipment, and medical devices.

"Cecmed currently possesses a regulatory strengthening ecosystem that many nations still aspire to achieve. This is in addition to the 'ultra-human' efforts they undertake to accomplish their mission," she noted.

For PAHO, she emphasized, it is a privilege to collaborate with the professionals at this center and share Cuba's vision of inclusive health for all.

Rius presented her lecture, "Strengthening Regulatory Systems and Their Impact on Local Drug Production: A PAHO Perspective," at the symposium.

Meanwhile, Cecmed Director Olga Lidia Jacobo also told Prensa Latina exclusively that the regulatory symposium includes representatives from the national BioCubaFarma industry, similar industries from about ten countries, international organizations, and representatives from the European Union.

"This forum brings together all aspects of health regulation, which is essential for advancing our health self-sufficiency in the Americas region—an imperative need to address pandemic situations like COVID-19," she explained.

The second day of Cuba Salud 2025, taking place today at the Havana Convention Center and the Pabexpo fairgrounds, is also highlighted by the International Symposium: Science and Innovation in the Development of Health Systems and Services, as well as the 5th International Conference on Medical Education in the 21st Century.

Concurrently, the 3rd Foreign Investment Forum in the sector and the Global Health and International Cooperation meeting will be held at Pabexpo.

Cuba Salud 2025, which encompasses the 16th "Health for All" Trade Fair and the 2nd Medical Tourism and Wellness Fair, hosted at the Havana Convention Center and the Pabexpo fairgrounds, is themed "Universal Health Strategies, Based on the One Health Approach, for Sustainable Development."

The event, which features approximately 400 scientific activities and over 200 keynote lectures, panels, symposia, and meetings, serves as a space for reflection on the current and future challenges facing national and international health.

The first Cuba-China Science and Innovation Symposium, addressing topics related to biotechnology and featuring presentations by several rectors of medical universities from the Asian nation, will also take place.