A Cuban doctor has taken to TikTok to share her bureaucratic ordeal after receiving her "release from the national health system" following a three-year wait. Upon attempting to process her passport, she discovered that the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) still considers her "regulated," effectively preventing her from emigrating.
The doctor, known on the platform as @javiart08, expressed her initial joy: "I woke up overwhelmed with happiness because after three long years, I'm finally going to get my passport and my baby's." However, her visit to the local ID card office revealed a harsh reality: "I'm still regulated by the national health system," she confirmed, visibly upset.
Her day was consumed by unanswered phone calls. "I have a pounding headache; I've spent the whole day calling the Ministry of Public Health, using the numbers they provided, and nobody answers," she lamented. The designated days for public assistance are Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it was Thursday when she recorded her video.
To address her predicament, she would need to make a physical trip to Havana. "I can't believe that with the current transportation issues and the situation in Cuba, I have to send myself to Havana to have this regulation lifted," she expressed.
This is not an isolated incident. Under the Cuban regime, healthcare professionals have been categorized as "regulated population" with travel restrictions since Decree Law 306 was enacted in October 2012. This requires doctors and other specialists to obtain explicit permission from MINSAP to travel or emigrate, even after resigning from their positions.
The typical process takes up to 50 days from the application, but in reality, it stretches on for years. Authorities can delay the procedure for up to five years, citing the need to "train replacements." In 2023, these restrictions were extended to include dentists, healthcare technicians, and nursing graduates.
Similar experiences have been reported by other doctors. There are documented cases of physicians being prevented from traveling years after their separation from MINSAP, and professionals being verbally informed of their "regulated" status directly at ID card offices. Additionally, the regime has routinely denied "unrestricted" certificates to emigrated doctors, hindering their ability to validate their degrees abroad.
This doctor’s struggle unfolds amid one of Cuba's most severe electricity crises in April 2026. Power outages have surged, with blackouts lasting up to 17 hours and 45 minutes recorded on Sunday, while public transportation remains largely suspended due to fuel shortages. The doctor herself remarked in her video: "After months with 20, 26-hour pay, May 1st is approaching, they're cutting power more, and everyone wants to make the most of it."
In 2024, over 4,000 professionals from the Cuban Health Observatory United demanded an end to these migration restrictions for doctors through an open letter. The regime has not responded.
Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Prisoners Defenders have documented these practices as repressive and akin to forced labor, while hundreds of Cuban professionals remain trapped in a bureaucratic maze designed to obstruct their freedom of movement.
Understanding Cuba's Health System Regulations
What does it mean to be a "regulated" professional in Cuba?
In Cuba, being a "regulated" professional means that certain individuals, particularly in the healthcare sector, face travel restrictions. They must obtain explicit permission from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) to travel or emigrate, even if they have resigned from their positions.
How long can the release process from the Cuban health system take?
While the official process is supposed to take up to 50 days, in practice, it can extend for several years. Authorities have the discretion to delay the release for up to five years, often citing the need to train replacements as a reason for the delay.
What organizations have criticized Cuba's restriction policies?
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Prisoners Defenders have criticized Cuba's restrictive policies, labeling them as repressive and comparable to forced labor. They have documented these practices extensively, highlighting the challenges faced by Cuban professionals.