- So far, more than 700 Cuban doctors have arrived in Mexico to provide care in rural areas.
- The doctors are internists, pediatricians, surgeons, family physicians, ophthalmologists, and nephrologists. Also intensivists, imaging specialists, cardiologists, otolaryngologists, geriatricians, gastroenterologists, neurologists, oncologists, orthopedists, psychiatrists, allergists, anesthesiologists.
- Each one receives a salary of more than 30,000 pesos per month and also lodging in houses with all services included.
Mexican health is going through a delicate moment, although in reality it is the consequence of multiple mistakes that have been made for decades. One of the causes is the lack of investment for this sector. Among the alternatives that have been implemented is the recruitment of Cuban doctors to work in rural areas, but is it really a solution?
In the first instance, the Ministry of Health (SSa) recognizes that our country has a deficit of 200 thousand doctors, of which 77 thousand are specialists. It is partly one of the reasons for the workload that prevails in public hospitals.
To care for all patients, doctors must face endless days. In addition, it has promoted express medical consultation as an alternative to provide care to more patients, although it does not necessarily mean that it is the best.
Mexico hires Cuban doctors but there is a problem
With the above in mind, At the end of 2022, the Government of Mexico signed an agreement to allow the arrival of Cuban doctors. The objective of this strategy is to send the doctors to the rural areas where the most deprived people are.
According to the report presented by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, as of May 23, 2023, 700 specialists from the island had arrived. While the entities in which they have been distributed are Nayarit, Tlaxcala, Colima, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Campeche, Guerrero, Veracruz, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca and Zacatecas.
Regarding specialties, the Cuban doctors who have arrived are internists, pediatricians, surgeons, family physicians, ophthalmologists and nephrologists. Also intensivists, imaging specialists, cardiologists, otolaryngologists, geriatricians, gastroenterologists, neurologists, oncologists, orthopedists, psychiatrists, allergists, anesthesiologists.
But now there is a serious problem. In accordance with some media from Morelos, in that entity an initiative was presented to expel Cuban doctors from Mexico. The reason is because it was identified that they do not have a professional license.
This is a rather serious aspect because in the case of national personnel it is an essential requirement that is requested for any job. If you do not have a professional license, there is no possibility of being hired.
Inexperienced and knowledgeable staff
As a result of the above, it has been questioned whether they are really specialists. In addition, demonstrations have been held in other states of the country to demand the withdrawal of the Cuban doctors. Within what is mentioned is that they have a low preparation and do not have the adequate knowledge to care for patients.
The specific case of a Cuban urologist is even mentioned, who began a surgical process to remove a patient’s prostate but could not complete the intervention due to lack of knowledge. Therefore, the support of Mexican specialists was requested to conclude the operation.
On the other hand, an additional complaint that has been a constant is the treatment that has been given to foreign personnel. Each one receives a salary of more than 30,000 pesos per month and is also offered lodging in houses with all the services. Instead, Mexican doctors receive much less pay and no additional benefits.
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