Severe medicine shortages, repeated grid collapses: Cuba's travel advice has been reviewed throughout
What happened
On 25 September 2026, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published a full review of its travel advice for Cuba. This was not a single tweak. Changes were made throughout, covering protests, power outages, fuel and water shortages, travel disruption, international card transactions, travel insurance, visa requirements, travelling to the USA from Cuba, taking money into Cuba, crime, money, taxis, emergency medical numbers and healthcare. The headline position has not changed. The FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to Cuba. The reasons given are economic. Cuba is described as experiencing a worsening economic situation, with shortages of fuel, electricity, water and basic necessities. This is affecting tourism services and disrupting travel within the country. On power, the advice is blunt. The Cuban national electric grid "has collapsed a number of times over the last few months", and further collapses are described as likely. Low fuel reserves are causing severe and sustained disruption to essential infrastructure, including transport, medical care, communications, water supply and street lighting. Authorities have introduced fuel rationing, scaled back public services, and made changes to healthcare and education. The situation has led to frequent protests. Most have remained peaceful, but the advice warns they can escalate.
Why this matters
The words "advise against all but essential travel" carry a specific consequence that a lot of people find out about too late. If you travel against FCDO advice, your travel insurance can be invalidated. That is not a technicality. It can mean you are personally liable for medical costs, or for medical evacuation, which can run into very large sums. The medical side of this particular advice deserves attention. The FCDO states that there are severe shortages of basic medicines in Cuba. Clinics treating foreigners are more likely to stock basic supplies, but many medicines, pharmacy items and sanitary products that are easy to get in the UK are not available. And then the line that matters most: if you have a pre-existing medical condition, do not expect to buy medication in Cuba. There is also a mosquito-borne disease picture. Cuba declared an arbovirus epidemic in 2025 after a significant rise in cases including dengue, Oropouche and chikungunya. The epidemic warning is no longer live, but these viruses continue to circulate. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a "Practice Enhanced Precautions" notice over a chikungunya outbreak. The emergency ambulance number is 104, and the advice describes the service as limited and generally unreliable, particularly outside urban areas.
What the evidence actually says
The source here is the UK government's own advice, published and dated, rather than a study or a news report. That makes it reliable about the UK position, but it has limits. FCDO advice describes risk. It does not predict what will happen to any individual traveller. Many people visit Cuba and come home having had a good time. The advice also changes. A review on 25 September 2026 reflects the picture as understood then. Anyone travelling should check it again close to departure rather than relying on an article. On crime, the advice is measured and worth quoting properly. It says crime has reportedly increased in recent months, but that data suggests levels are generally lower than in the UK or regional averages, while the difficult economic situation is driving an increase in opportunistic crime. There have been reports of muggings in Havana and burglaries at properties, including instances of violent crime. That is a more balanced picture than "Cuba is dangerous", and we would rather give you the real one. On politics, the advice notes that Cuba is ruled by a single party with a high level of social control, that opposition parties are not allowed, and that there are restrictions on freedom of speech, association and assembly for Cuban nationals. Internet access can be blocked during times of political tension.
Qurexa perspective
This is the part of the story where our day job is genuinely relevant, so we will be specific rather than general. If you take regular prescription medicines and you are travelling somewhere with shortages, the planning has to start weeks before you fly, not days. Repeat prescriptions in England are usually issued on a fixed cycle. You cannot normally get three months' supply just because you are going away, and asking the day before departure rarely works. Speak to your GP practice and your pharmacy early, explain the trip, and ask what is possible. Take more than the trip length. Flights get cancelled, and in a country with fuel shortages, internal delays are likelier than usual. Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging, in hand luggage, with a copy of your repeat prescription list. Some medicines that are routine in the UK are controlled elsewhere, so check the rules for your destination. We deliver prescriptions and support medication adherence in Lincolnshire, and the most common problem we see before a holiday is simply leaving it too late. That one is free to fix.
Practical advice
If you are considering, or already booked on, a trip to Cuba, work through this list. Read the full FCDO advice yourself at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba, and sign up for email updates so you know if it changes. Check your travel insurance policy wording against the advice. If the FCDO advises against all but essential travel, ring your insurer and ask directly whether you are covered. Take enough cash and plan for card problems. The advice specifically flags international card transactions as an issue. Take all the medication you will need, plus extra, and a letter from your GP if you have a long-term condition. Pack a basic first aid kit and the everyday pharmacy items you would normally buy on arrival, including painkillers, rehydration sachets and sanitary products. Take mosquito precautions seriously: repellent with DEET, long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and a room with screens or a net. Dengue, chikungunya and Oropouche are all circulating. Check vaccine recommendations at least eight weeks before travel via the NHS travel vaccinations pages. Pack a torch and a power bank. Grid collapses are described as likely. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and follow local authority instructions.
What to know
The FCDO reviewed its Cuba travel advice on 25 September 2026, with changes made throughout. It continues to advise against all but essential travel. Cuba's national grid has collapsed several times in recent months and further collapses are considered likely, with fuel rationing and disruption to transport, medical care, water and communications. There are severe shortages of basic medicines. If you have a pre-existing condition, do not expect to buy medication in Cuba. Dengue, chikungunya, Zika, malaria and Oropouche are all listed as health risks, and the ambulance service is described as limited and unreliable. Travelling against FCDO advice can invalidate your travel insurance. Check your policy before you go, not after. Sources: FCDO (GOV.UK), "Cuba travel advice", updated 25 September 2026, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba; NHS, "Travel vaccinations", accessed 26 September 2026, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/; TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), "Cuba", accessed 26 September 2026, https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/56/cuba. This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist, travel health clinic or other qualified healthcare professional. Always check the current FCDO advice before you travel.
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