A video shared on Instagram by Dr. Fernando Sánchez, a Colombian dermatologist-in-training in Havana, has sparked outrage among Cubans both on the island and abroad. The reel, posted on Saturday, features snippets of daily life showcasing breakfast with a "privileged view," diverse meals, gym workouts, and outings in Cuba's capital city.
In just a few hours, the video garnered over 5,000 views and 629 likes, capturing Dr. Sánchez during his rotation at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital and the International Clinic of Placental Histotherapy "Dr. Carlos Manuel Miyares Cao."
Despite mentioning the lack of electricity that forced him to climb more than ten floors using the stairs, Dr. Sánchez downplays this as a minor inconvenience.
He concludes the video by revealing he has his own generator: "Returning home, even without electricity again, the view from the balcony made it all worthwhile."
Backlash from Cuban Medical Community
The strongest reaction came from Dr. Lucio Enriquez Nodarse, a Cuban doctor who reposted the video on Facebook along with a direct critique.
"What we Cubans have to endure—the lack of empathy and the mockery from foreign doctors who pay to train in our country. They post this content while living in a parallel world, fully aware that just meters away people are starving," he wrote. His post gained over 4,900 views and more than 105 comments.
Dr. Enriquez Nodarse also posed a question that resonated with his followers: "How much does the dictatorship earn from this 'training package' for a dermatology resident?"
Public Outcry and Economic Disparities
Comments from Cubans on the post echoed feelings of pain and accumulated frustration.
"That video hurt me. Does he know many of his professors can't afford to eat? How sad," one user commented. Another added, "The worst part is this isn't Cuba. My father was a great doctor and lived and died in misery."
An additional comment provided economic context: "In Cuba, anyone handling significant dollars lives in paradise. You can find anything, but it's all priced in dollars or equivalent in the national currency."
One person summed up their reaction with a single word: "Miserable."
Stark Reality for Cuban Doctors
The video starkly contrasts with the harsh realities faced by Cuban doctors, who earn between 5,000 and 8,000 pesos monthly—equivalent to ten to twenty dollars on the informal exchange market. Meanwhile, the basic living expenses for two people in Havana exceed 41,000 pesos.
Many healthcare professionals have left the medical field due to the impossibility of surviving on such income, while others have gone viral with videos showing their salaries exhausted after a single day of shopping.
Meanwhile, the regime charges foreign medical students up to 1,000 dollars for enrollment and between 4,000 and 5,000 dollars per semester for self-financed programs. An investigation by El Toque revealed that the Mexican government paid between 7,800 and 12,500 euros annually for each of its medical scholarship recipients in Cuba.
The energy crisis mentioned by Dr. Sánchez in passing has catastrophic consequences for the Cuban population. In May 2026, the UN warned that over 100,000 patients, including 11,000 children, are awaiting surgeries delayed by blackouts and shortages, with five million people with chronic diseases facing treatment disruptions.
On Friday, the Electric Union reported a 2,081 MW deficit, leading to power outages in some areas that last over twenty hours a day.
Understanding the Impact of Foreign Medical Training in Cuba
Why has the video by Dr. Fernando Sánchez caused such a backlash?
The video has been criticized for showcasing a lifestyle of privilege amidst widespread hardship in Cuba, highlighting the disparity between foreign medical trainees and the struggling local population.
What is the financial reality for Cuban doctors?
Cuban doctors earn between 5,000 and 8,000 pesos monthly, roughly equivalent to ten to twenty dollars informally, while basic living costs for two people in Havana exceed 41,000 pesos.
How does the Cuban government benefit from foreign medical students?
The Cuban government charges foreign medical students up to 1,000 dollars for enrollment and additional fees per semester, generating substantial revenue from these educational programs.
What are the consequences of Cuba's energy crisis on healthcare?
The energy crisis has led to severe disruptions in healthcare, with over 100,000 patients waiting for surgeries and five million individuals with chronic conditions facing interrupted treatments due to frequent blackouts.