Venezuela Raises Concerns Over US Sanctions Impact On Health Sector At WHO
Venezuela says US sanctions are limiting healthcare access at WHO assembly.
The government of Venezuela has strongly criticised the impact of United States sanctions on its public health system, raising the issue at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. Venezuelan officials said the measures have restricted access to medicines, medical equipment, and essential supplies, while also worsening shortages of health personnel across the country.
At the forum organised by the World Health Organization, Venezuela’s Vice Minister of Hospitals Mauricio Vega said the sanctions have disrupted the country’s ability to maintain adequate healthcare services. He stated that limitations on imports have affected hospital operations and access to critical equipment. Vega also emphasised that despite these constraints, Venezuela continues to promote a public health model based on equity and primary care, describing health as “a fundamental human right, not a commodity.”
Venezuelan officials said the country has also been facing a shortage of trained medical personnel, partly due to migration in recent years. According to the health ministry, this has placed additional pressure on hospitals already dealing with limited supplies. The government claims it has responded by expanding training programmes to prepare new health professionals in an effort to stabilise the system and maintain basic healthcare services.
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During his address, Vega warned that structural limitations, combined with external economic restrictions, could contribute to the re-emergence of diseases and further strain public health infrastructure. He said Venezuela continues to prioritise universal healthcare access despite challenges and reiterated calls for the “total and unconditional elimination” of unilateral coercive measures, which the government argues are harmful to civilian welfare and development.
The Venezuelan delegation also used the platform to reaffirm its broader political stance on sovereignty and international relations. Earlier, acting President Delcy Rodríguez had rejected external proposals questioning the country’s independence, saying Venezuela remains committed to defending its sovereignty and diplomatic engagement. She also stressed that dialogue and cooperation remain the preferred path forward in relations with the United States.
The health-sector dispute comes amid long-standing global debate over the humanitarian effects of sanctions on Venezuela. International organisations and independent studies have previously reported that financial and trade restrictions can contribute to shortages in medical supplies and strain healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries. Venezuela maintains that lifting sanctions is essential to restoring stability in its health sector, while critics of the government argue that internal economic mismanagement has also played a significant role in the country’s crisis.
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