The bank account held by the Cuban Medical Services Commercialization Company S.A. (CSMC) at Italy's BPER bank has been inactive since late July, according to a report by journalist Annarella Grimal for Diario de Cuba. The information, sourced from six insiders, including two members of the mission in Calabria, reveals significant operational disruptions.
Witnesses have confirmed that some transfers have been returned, while others are frozen, leaving the CSMC unable to access the funds deposited in the account.
Unclear Reasons for Account Freeze
Currently, there is no official public announcement explaining the cause, scope, or anticipated duration of the account freeze. A doctor working in Cosenza told Diario de Cuba, "It seems that there will be no more transfers for now. The account is blocked." Another doctor confirmed that while she completed a transaction, Cuba cannot utilize the funds.
Several members of the contingent who attempted to send their monthly earnings had their transfers returned. This disruption directly impacts the system through which the CSMC collects a substantial portion of the income generated by Cuban doctors working in Italy.
Financial Arrangements Between Italy and Cuba
According to Diario de Cuba, Italian health entities deposit payments directly into the personal accounts of each professional. On the 24th of each month, doctors receive their salary and must remit it to Cuban officials, who decide the amount they can keep versus what must be transferred to the state-run company's account.
The agreement between Italy and Cuba specifies a base salary of 4,700 euros, but Grimal's investigation reveals that the CSMC allows doctors to retain a maximum of 1,200 euros from that amount. For overtime, professionals receive 28.5% of the generated income, with the remainder sent to the CSMC account at BPER, which is currently inaccessible.
Impacts of the Account Blockage
Calculations by Diario de Cuba, based on numerous payrolls and salary transfers, indicate that the Commercialization company retains between 54% and 72% of the professionals' earnings, a percentage that can be higher for certain extraordinary payments.
While the exact date the restrictions on the account began is unclear, testimonies suggest the issue started between July 24 and 29. Unable to process the transfers, Luis Enrique Pérez Ulloa, head of the Cuban Medical Mission in Italy, called an urgent meeting to instruct the brigade on how to proceed.
Pérez Ulloa reportedly advised doctors to hold onto the money until a solution is found, and four individuals interviewed by the newspaper confirmed that professionals are to keep the amounts they would normally send to the CSMC in their personal accounts.
One proposed alternative is for doctors to bring the money to Cuba during vacations to hand it over to a designated person. However, it remains unconfirmed whether this would need to be done in cash.
Possible U.S. Sanctions Connection
While the cause of the blockage remains unverified, two sources suggested to Diario de Cuba that Italy might be investigating the Cuban Medical Mission and its financial transfers. A third source linked the issue to recent U.S. sanctions against the CSMC.
On July 23, 2026, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) included the Cuban Medical Services Commercialization Company and the Central Unit of Medical Cooperation among entities sanctioned under Executive Order 14404. These sanctions freeze assets and interests in the U.S. and restrict certain operations with these entities.
The U.S. Department of State asserted that the CSMC and the UCCM engage in a system where the Cuban government recruits healthcare professionals, oversees their international missions, and withholds a substantial portion of their income.
BPER maintains correspondent relationships with the U.S. financial system. This arrangement might lead to certain foreign bank operations interacting with U.S. banks or financial controls, especially in international transactions. However, Diario de Cuba notes that this does not directly prove that U.S. sanctions are responsible for the account freeze.
Foreign banks may also independently review or terminate relationships with sanctioned entities based on their risk and compliance assessments. Diario de Cuba reached out to BPER for clarification but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Understanding the Cuban Medical Mission's Financial Crisis
What is the current status of the Cuban Medical Mission's bank account in Italy?
The account held by the Cuban Medical Services Commercialization Company at BPER bank in Italy has been frozen since late July, preventing any operations.
How are Cuban doctors in Italy affected by the account freeze?
The freeze disrupts the system where doctors transfer a significant portion of their earnings to the CSMC. Many have had their transfers returned or frozen, impacting their ability to comply with financial obligations to the regime.
Could U.S. sanctions be the reason for the account blockage?
While U.S. sanctions against the CSMC might be related, there is no direct evidence confirming they caused the account freeze. Investigations are ongoing.