Iván Hernández Pérez, a Master in Medical Psychology known locally as "Iván the Psychologist" and "Iván the Boxer," recently gave a candid interview on Facebook for Covers Enoc. He painted a stark picture of what it means to be a professional in Cuba, highlighting years of dedication and sacrifice that fail to provide even the most basic living conditions that he believes everyone in the world should have.
When asked if he is satisfied with his life, Iván was unequivocal: "No, obviously not. Neither my current life, my past life, nor my present life. And well, we'll see what the future holds."
His criticism of the system was even more forthright: "A professional who has worked hard here in Cuba, always striving to live, to help others, and yet lacks the basic opportunities that any human being in the world should have, I think they wouldn’t be happy or content living here. I feel like I've been deceived."
When questioned about whether being a professional in Cuba is worthwhile, he responded decisively: "No, no, evidently a professional life in Cuba means wasting all those years of study, all that effort and sacrifice."
He summed up the plight of thousands of Cubans with university degrees: "A professional in Cuba only has the right to remain silent."
However, Iván expressed immense pride when asked if he feels proud to be Cuban: "Being Cuban is a tremendous pride, being the same as José Martí, Celia Cruz, Félix Varela, all the greats from here in Cuba, an immense pride."
Iván's testimony underscores the harsh economic reality for those who chose to pursue higher education on the island. According to salary reference platforms, psychologists in the state sector earn between 2,101 and 5,885 Cuban pesos monthly. The average state salary hovers around 6,930 pesos, equivalent to just $13 at the informal exchange rate, which ranges from 420 to 435 pesos per dollar. Even the most generous offers in the state banking sector for psychologists do not exceed 10,600 pesos, roughly $25 per month.
This gap between academic qualifications and material compensation has spurred a massive exodus of young Cuban professionals, aged between twenty and forty, particularly from the health, education, engineering, and technology sectors, to countries like Brazil, Spain, and Chile.
Iván's experience is not the first to articulate this sense of institutional betrayal. A Cuban doctor who worked in Venezuela for a year received only $213 at the end of his mission and similarly described the experience as "a scam."
Despite his grievances, Iván clarified that his discontent is not with Cuba as a nation or his identity: "Yes, yes, yes, being Cuban is indeed a great pride. A great pride, being the same as José Martí, the same as Varela, Celia Cruz, all the greats from here in Cuba, an immense pride."
Iván's distinction—between the pride of belonging to a nation with a rich history and the frustration with a system that doesn't reward effort—captures the contradiction experienced daily by tens of thousands of Cuban professionals who chose to remain on the island.
Understanding the Professional Struggle in Cuba
Why does Iván Hernández feel deceived by the system?
Iván Hernández feels deceived because despite years of dedication and effort, he and other professionals in Cuba do not receive the basic living conditions and opportunities that are available to professionals in other parts of the world.
What are the salary conditions for Cuban psychologists in the state sector?
In the state sector, Cuban psychologists earn between 2,101 and 5,885 pesos monthly, with an average salary of about 6,930 pesos, which is equivalent to approximately $13 at the informal exchange rate.
What drives the emigration of young Cuban professionals?
The lack of alignment between academic qualifications and material compensation drives many young Cuban professionals, especially in sectors like health, education, engineering, and technology, to emigrate to countries such as Brazil, Spain, and Chile.