Amidst the severe crisis plaguing Cuba's public health services, 2,700 doctors are set to leave their posts on the island and join the nearly 1,000 Cuban professionals already assisting in Mexican hospitals, the Andrés Manuel López Obrador government announced on Tuesday.
During his daily morning press conference at Palacio Nacional, the Mexican president announced the upcoming arrival of these medical professionals and reiterated his gratitude to the Cuban regime for supporting his administration's plans to sufficiently staff the public health system.
While the shortage of doctors in hospitals, polyclinics, and clinics in Cuba's communities and neighborhoods, along with the lack of medications and supplies, jeopardizes the health of the Cuban population, the Miguel Díaz-Canel government continues to increase the export of qualified medical personnel to Mexico and other countries.
The 2,700 specialists, whose arrival date has not been specified, will join the 950 who are already providing services in hospitals across 23 states, bringing the total number of Cuban health workers in Mexico to 3,650.
Zoé Robledo, Director General of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), stated on Tuesday that the incoming Cuban doctors are primarily specialists in internal medicine, pediatrics, and emergency care. They will augment the medical staff in 282 hospitals, mostly located in rural or marginalized areas.
Expanding Medical Collaboration
"With this, we aim to ensure that these hospitals have an average of 12 doctors each," Robledo said, arguing that the initiative is about making healthcare services more accessible to populations lacking social security coverage.
In mid-May, Díaz-Canel met with Robledo to finalize agreements related to the contract of 1,200 Cuban doctors in Mexico. A month earlier, the IMSS director assured in Havana that the institution was working with the Cuban government to expand medical collaboration to unprecedented levels.
Mexico's President-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced earlier this month that she would continue hiring doctors from the island, despite strong criticisms that label the program as a way to fund the Cuban dictatorial regime. Sheinbaum revealed that in a meeting with Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, they discussed the possibility of continuing to bring Cuban doctors to Mexico, at least during the first year of her administration (2024-2030).
Meanwhile, voices in Mexico continue to question the government’s decision to hire Cuban professionals without considering "an equivalence of completed studies." Recently, Dr. Francisco Moreno, former head of medicine at ABC Medical Center in Mexico City, criticized the AMLO administration for hiring Cuban doctors without verifying their quality and training. In contrast, Mexican doctors are required to submit a large number of documents to practice their profession.
Moreno blamed the president for putting the health of the people in the hands of professionals whose academic knowledge is unknown.
FAQs on Cuban Doctors in Mexico
As the Mexican government continues to bring in Cuban doctors to address healthcare shortages, many questions arise regarding the implications and details of this collaboration. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Why is Mexico hiring Cuban doctors?
Mexico is hiring Cuban doctors to address a significant shortage of medical professionals, especially in rural and marginalized areas. This collaboration aims to improve access to healthcare services for populations lacking social security coverage.
What specialties do the incoming Cuban doctors have?
The incoming Cuban doctors are mainly specialists in internal medicine, pediatrics, and emergency care. They will provide their services in 282 hospitals across Mexico.
How many Cuban doctors are currently working in Mexico?
Currently, there are 950 Cuban doctors working in hospitals across 23 states in Mexico. With the arrival of 2,700 more, the total number will increase to 3,650.