Mission to Cuba
An INCB mission visited Cuba from 4 to 6 July 2012. The mission was conducted by
Dr. Galina Korchagina, member of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Imrich Betko, Drug Control Officer in the INCB Secretariat. Cuba is party to the three international drug conventions and the purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of these conventions. The last INCB mission to Cuba took place in 1999.
The mission met with the Minister of Justice, the Minister and the Vice-Minister of Education, the Vice-Minister of Public Health, as well as with senior officials of Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Drug Commission, police and customs authorities as well as non-governmental organizations. The delegation visited health-care facilities in La Habana as well as a manufacturer of medicinal products. The mission also met with representatives of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Delegation of the European Union in Cuba.
Among the issues addressed during the discussions with senior officials were those related to legislative measures and administrative policies of drug control. The situation of, and the actions by the government to counter drug trafficking, the provision of drug abuse treatment and abuse prevention as well as the availability of opiates in palliative care were also discussed.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its 105 th session in November 2012 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2012, which will be published in early 2013.