A specialist doctor from Santiago de Cuba has taken to Facebook to publish an open letter addressed to the Minister of Public Health. In his letter, he reveals that he has been unable to obtain a passport for three years to visit family abroad, despite having resigned from his job a year and a half ago.
The author, Dr. Alberto Tejeda Ill, identifies himself as a Secondary Care Specialist and explains that he is classified as "regulated" under a category known as Vital Category. This classification, imposed by the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), is designed to restrict medical specialists from leaving the country.
"As a Secondary Care Specialist, I'm not allowed to obtain a passport or travel outside Cuba to see my family because I am 'regulated,' as commonly known," wrote Tejeda in his letter.
His passport application was automatically rejected by the Cuban government's online portal with the message: "The application cannot be processed, citizen regulated by Vital Category by the MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH: MEDICAL SPECIALIST. Please report to the agency." Tejeda included a screenshot of this rejection as evidence of his complaint.
Tejeda describes the situation as particularly unjust since he no longer works for MINSAP: "I'm being restricted by an employer (Cuban Public Health) when I'm no longer their employee and there’s no employment contract in place," he questioned, directly wondering if his universal human rights, his right to emigrate in search of better economic opportunities, and his labor rights are being violated.
"For three years, I've received negative responses, and it's unclear whether these come from the Health Directorate of Santiago de Cuba, the Ministry itself, or both," he wrote. He added that he has sent two letters to the Ministry without receiving a response and has had his request denied three times through provincial channels.
The doctor also dismisses the argument that his presence is crucial for the system: "No one is indispensable. [...] After processing my resignation, the service continued functioning as usual," he argued. He suggested that the repeated denials might have another motive: "Restrictions affect all similar Specialists in the country, but claiming rights is a personal action; perhaps the refusals are reprisals for daring to challenge the arbitrariness."
Tejeda also references the new Cuban migration legislation. On May 5, 2026, the Gaceta Oficial published Migration Law No. 171/2024 and its Regulation, Decree 136/2025. However, the doctor asserts this law does not address his situation: "According to the current or previous legal framework, authorization can be granted after individual analysis, which depends on the will and disposition of the corresponding officials."
The historical legal basis for these restrictions is Decree 306 from October 11, 2012, which conditions the departure of "vital" professionals from the country on the approval of their employers and higher authorities. In January 2023, the Cuban government expanded these restrictions to include medical specialists, dentists, health technicians, and nursing graduates.
Dr. Tejeda's case is not an isolated one. In May 2024, surgeon José Manuel Suárez Villalobos from Camagüey, with 28 years of service, publicly denounced the same situation, asking, "How long will I be punished for being a specialist?" The organization Prisoners Defenders documented over 1,402 cases of Cuban professionals in the sector affected by restrictions and rights violations, according to a report published in January 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Medical Specialists' Restrictions
What is the "Vital Category" for Cuban medical specialists?
The "Vital Category" is a classification used by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health to restrict medical specialists from leaving the country, effectively controlling their ability to travel abroad.
How are Cuban doctors affected by the migration laws?
The new migration laws, while published in 2026, do not resolve the issues faced by medical specialists like Dr. Tejeda, as they leave the authorization to travel at the discretion of government officials.
What historical legal frameworks contribute to these restrictions?
The restrictions are based on Decree 306 from October 11, 2012, which requires professionals deemed "vital" to obtain approval from their employers and higher authorities before leaving the country.