A Cuban doctor, Roxangela San Martín, has taken to Facebook to publicly criticize the harsh economic realities faced by healthcare professionals in Cuba. Her message starkly captures the plight of countless doctors on the island: their salaries are insufficient even to afford a package of chicken.
"Imagine dedicating nine years of your life to studying medicine—six years for the degree and four for specialization—only to find that practicing your profession doesn't even pay enough for a pack of chicken," San Martín expressed in a text image with a magenta background accompanying her post.
In her post, she further revealed that her mother, also a doctor with dual specializations and 34 years in the field, retired with a paltry 3,000 pesos a month, which is barely five dollars at the current informal exchange rate.
Struggles Beyond the Profession
San Martín also shared her experience of trying to support herself through a private business, only to be singled out by a State Inspection Directorate (DIS) inspector who disparagingly referred to her as "that doctor" in front of others.
"My post is to highlight how inverted the pyramid is and how undervalued we professionals are in today's Cuba. It's about the loss of respect and values," she stated, acknowledging her past vow to refrain from using social media for complaints, yet confessing that the circumstances compel her to speak out.
Government's Inadequate Response
This outcry emerges as the regime recently enacted Resolution 17/2026, introducing new wages for the healthcare sector, effective in July with payment starting this August. However, the figures remain dismal: a newly graduated doctor will earn 7,045 pesos monthly, while a second-degree specialist makes 8,880 pesos, translating to only 10.5 to 13.2 dollars at the informal rate. Another Cuban doctor labeled this increase as a "global embarrassment," noting that the raise barely surpasses ten dollars monthly.
The basic living expenses for two people in Havana exceed 41,000 pesos per month, an enormous gap compared to any official medical salary scale.
Widespread Hardship Among Healthcare Workers
San Martín's situation is not unique. On Friday, Yasmany Figueroa Chaviano, an Optometry and Vision Sciences doctor residing in Santo Domingo, Villa Clara, reported that he and his family were "starving" and had resorted to selling clothes and shoes to eat at least once a day.
In May, another doctor with a specialty and teaching credentials abandoned her career because her salary wasn't sufficient to feed her child.
The Food Monitor Program reported in June that 96.91% of the Cuban population lacks adequate access to food, and 33.9% of households had someone go to bed hungry in the last 30 days.
Restricted Pathways for Income
Adding to these challenges is Decree 160 of 2026, which bans private medical practice in Cuba, reserving all healthcare activities for the National Health System. Signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on July 22 and published in the Official Gazette, the decree will take effect on Tuesday, August 4, shutting down the only legal avenue left for doctors to supplement their state incomes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Healthcare Wages in Cuba
Why are Cuban doctors struggling financially?
Cuban doctors face financial struggles due to extremely low salaries that do not meet basic living costs, compounded by restrictions on private practice.
What is the impact of Resolution 17/2026 on healthcare wages?
Resolution 17/2026 offers minimal wage increases for healthcare workers, which remain insufficient compared to the cost of living, causing discontent among medical professionals.
How does Decree 160 affect doctors in Cuba?
Decree 160 prohibits private medical practice, limiting doctors to state employment and preventing them from supplementing their income through private means.