Cuban Embassy in Mexico Confirms Identity of Doctor Who Died in Veracruz and Addresses Her Death

The Cuban Embassy in Mexico, along with its Consulate in Veracruz, recently confirmed the death of Cuban doctor Zunilda Torres Rodríguez, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She was part of a medical brigade sent by Cuba under the IMSS-Bienestar program and was serving at the Civil Hospital “Dr. Luis F. Nachón” in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz state.

The Cuban Consulate in Veracruz, in cooperation with the State Prosecutor's Office, IMSS Bienestar, and representatives from Cuban Medical Services, has been working since yesterday to expedite the repatriation of Dr. Zunilda Torres Rodríguez's remains. The Consulate's Facebook post expressed, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues, and friends."

Official Response from the Cuban Embassy in Mexico

The Cuban Embassy in Mexico also expressed sorrow over the loss of the specialist, acknowledging her significant contributions to the healthcare system in Veracruz. "We bid farewell with sadness to Dr. Zunilda Torres, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, who served the people of Veracruz. From our diplomatic mission, the Medical Brigade, and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, we stand by her family, offering consular support and assistance for repatriation," the embassy stated.

Death Occurs During Work Hours

Institutional sources confirmed that Dr. Torres passed away early Monday morning while engaged in her professional duties. Roberto Alonso García Díaz, Director of Medical Attention for Veracruz Health Services, noted to the Mexican press that protocols for sudden deaths were activated and that the Cuban Consulate was promptly notified to begin repatriation procedures.

Her untimely death has been described as "regrettable and painful" by various Mexican authorities, prompting expressions of solidarity in both Cuba and Mexico. As she had no family in Mexico, the Cuban Consulate has taken charge of all diplomatic and legal processes to return her remains to Cuba.

Posthumous Recognition in Veracruz

During the community health event “For a Healthy Heart” held at Xalapa's Juárez Park, Roberto Alonso García, Director of the hospital where Dr. Torres worked, urged attendees to observe a moment of silence and applaud in her memory. He highlighted her unwavering commitment to serving the Mexican people. "Her work exemplifies the solidarity spirit of Cuban medical brigades. Her loss is deeply felt by her colleagues and the community she served in Xalapa," the hospital director acknowledged.

Although details about the cause of death have not been disclosed, authorities emphasized that it occurred suddenly during her medical duties.

Context: Renewed Debate on Cuban Medical Brigades

The death of Dr. Zunilda Torres Rodríguez reignites the debate surrounding the deployment of Cuban doctors abroad, especially in Mexico, where their presence has been supported by the federal government yet criticized by human rights organizations, local medical associations, and critics of the Cuban regime.

The Cuban State promotes these medical brigades as a form of "internationalist solidarity," but international organizations have criticized them as a form of forced labor or modern servitude due to the conditions under which many members operate. Cuban doctors have frequently reported passport retention, salary confiscation by the Cuban government, lack of individual freedoms, and constant surveillance, even during official missions.