Cuba is intensifying efforts to forge deeper and more structured collaboration with India in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and broader healthcare delivery, viewing the partnership as a cornerstone of South-South cooperation in the post-pandemic era. Senior Cuban health and science officials, during a series of high-level engagements in New Delhi and Hyderabad in January 2026, reiterated Havana’s long-standing admiration for India’s pharmaceutical prowess and expressed keen interest in scaling up joint initiatives across the entire value chain from R&D to manufacturing and global distribution.

The relationship between the two nations in health sciences dates back decades and has produced notable successes: Indian companies have manufactured and exported Cuban-developed biotech products (including interferons and monoclonal antibodies), while Cuban experts have trained thousands of Indian healthcare professionals and contributed to capacity-building programs. More recently, the collaboration expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with technology transfer discussions around Cuba’s protein-subunit vaccines (Abdala and Soberana) and India’s large-scale vaccine production capabilities.

Current priorities outlined by Cuban representatives include:

• Joint development and co-manufacturing of next-generation biologics, including biosimilars, monoclonal antibodies, and mRNA-based platforms
• Expanded technology transfer for vaccine production and fill-finish capabilities in Cuba
• Collaborative clinical research and regulatory harmonisation to fast-track approvals in both markets and third countries
• Partnerships in diagnostic reagents, point-of-care testing, and digital health tools tailored to resource-limited settings
• Preferential market access arrangements for Cuban biotech products in India and Indian generics in Cuba and Latin America

Cuba’s biotech sector centred around the BioCubaFarma group has earned global recognition for developing innovative vaccines and therapies with relatively modest resources. India, meanwhile, remains the world’s largest supplier of affordable generic medicines and is rapidly scaling capabilities in biosimilars, vaccines, and complex generics. The two countries see strong complementarity: Cuba brings deep scientific expertise and experience in public-health-oriented innovation, while India offers unmatched manufacturing scale, cost efficiency, and global distribution networks.

The discussions also touched on potential cooperation in medical education, telemedicine, and health system strengthening areas where both nations have valuable lessons to share. Cuban officials expressed particular interest in India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission as a model for digital health infrastructure, while Indian counterparts highlighted opportunities for Cuban expertise in community-based primary care and vaccine equity programs.

While no formal new agreements were signed during the January 2026 visit, both sides committed to fast-tracking working-level talks and establishing a dedicated bilateral working group on biotech and healthcare cooperation. The initiative reflects growing momentum in South-South health partnerships amid global supply chain uncertainties and renewed emphasis on equitable access to medicines and technologies.