A Cuban woman battling hormonal breast cancer has turned to Instagram for assistance in acquiring Zoladex (goserelin 3.6 mg), a critical medication prescribed by her oncologist for a five-year treatment plan that is currently unavailable in Cuban hospitals.
Identified as @la_muchacha_de_los_rizos_vlogs on social media, Madai expressed her plea with heartfelt urgency: "I am asking for help with my heart in my hand. As some of you may know, I am a cancer patient, having undergone chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy."
Madai shared the mixed news revealed by her biopsy results: "The positive news is that the cancer has been removed from my body, and everything is fine. However, to ensure my continued health, I require ongoing treatment."
The Struggle for Essential Medication
This vital treatment hinges on a drug not manufactured in Cuba, and the country struggles to maintain regular importation. Madai needs at least 12 doses—one per month—to complete the first year of the five-year hormonal therapy her doctor outlined.
She specified that the required Zoladex dosage is 3.6 mg: "There is another version of 10.6 mg, but it is of no use to me," she clarified in her post.
When she inquired about transferring to another hospital with potential supplies, her doctor explained the erratic availability: "These medicines sometimes come in through donations and are reserved administratively for patients in immediate need; after that, there are none left."
The Broader Healthcare Crisis
Madai, who shares her journey with cancer on her social media, is also fundraising through PayPal. However, she admitted in her video that the funds gathered so far are insufficient even for the first year of treatment: "It’s not enough to cover a year if I manage to find the medicine."
Zoladex, produced by AstraZeneca, is injected subcutaneously every 28 days and is prescribed for hormone-dependent breast cancer in pre-and perimenopausal women, as it suppresses ovarian function and lowers estrogen levels. The price for this medication ranges from approximately $96 per dose in international pharmacies to over 240 euros in Europe.
This issue is not isolated. In late August, the family of 31-year-old Dalía Cuevas Leblanc from Santiago de Cuba also turned to social media to request chemotherapy drugs that the oncology hospital could not provide.
Such incidents highlight a worsening trend in 2026, amidst a healthcare system collapse partly acknowledged by the regime. In August, Díaz-Canel conceded that only 30% of essential medications are available in Cuba.
BioCubaFarma, the state pharmaceutical company, has admitted it cannot ensure nearly 300 of the 395 drugs promised to the national health system.
According to 2026 data, around 117,000 adults and 1,200 children with cancer in Cuba lack adequate primary treatments. The National Institute of Oncology reported since February that chemotherapy shortages are forcing protocol modifications and dosage adjustments.
Faced with this dire situation, Madai concluded her plea with a statement encapsulating the urgency of her condition: "I would be grateful if you know someone or something that could help me. It’s about my life."
FAQs on Cuba's Healthcare Crisis and Medication Shortages
Why is Zoladex unavailable in Cuban hospitals?
Zoladex is not produced in Cuba, and the country struggles to import it regularly due to economic constraints and the healthcare system's inefficiencies.
How are Cuban patients coping with medication shortages?
Many patients, like Madai, are turning to social media and crowdfunding platforms to seek assistance and raise funds to obtain necessary medications from abroad.
What is the role of BioCubaFarma in the medication shortage?
BioCubaFarma, the state-owned pharmaceutical company, has publicly stated that it is unable to provide nearly 300 out of the 395 medications promised to the national health system due to production and supply challenges.