Over 150 Cuban doctors gathered outside the Spanish Congress in Madrid, demanding answers about the prolonged delays in recognizing their university degrees. The demonstration was organized by the Cuban Degrees Recognition Movement in Spain, with support from the Association of Cuban Doctors in Spain, marking their second protest of this kind.
The demonstrators were received by members of the Popular Party (PP) in the European Parliament. Pedro Navarro, spokesperson for the Ministry of Universities in Congress, stated that they've requested another appearance from Minister Diana Morant to address the delays, particularly affecting Cuban and Venezuelan professionals. Navarro highlighted that Argentine citizens experience a faster recognition process, suggesting that diplomatic pressures might be influencing the situation for Cuban professionals.
Voices from the Protest
Elvira Velazco, vice president of the PP's Health Commission, described the situation as unbearable and vowed to continue presenting parliamentary initiatives to tackle this issue. Pedro Almiral Carbonel, a doctor who graduated in 1999, has been in Spain for two years and is currently unemployed. Yesalin Quiroz Méndez, who arrived two and a half years ago, has had to work as a waitress while waiting for her credentials to be recognized. Luis Enrique Vega Hernández, another protest participant, voiced his frustration about having to work in jobs for which he is overqualified.
A Broader Context of Discrimination
The protest aims not only to highlight the severe discrimination faced by Cuban and Venezuelan professionals but also to denounce the "arbitrary paralysis" of recognition processes over the past year. This issue has led to increasing pressure on the Spanish government to expedite these procedures, especially following a recent call from Fátima Matute, the Health Counselor for the Community of Madrid, urging relevant ministries to act more swiftly.
This ongoing problem affects thousands of professionals trained in Cuba and other countries, resulting in various mobilizations in the past. Last April, doctors from different countries residing in Spain protested, deeming it "unacceptable to prolong the suffering of Cuban doctors fleeing a dictatorship." Ponce Morales, who has been practicing in Spain for 27 years, emphasized that this issue impacts all doctors struggling with credential recognition, with some processes taking up to seven years, forcing professionals to work in unrelated jobs despite a shortage of medical staff that affects nearly 500,000 patients in Spain.
Calls for Legal Rights and Economic Impact
Dariel Llanes, a member of the Cuban Degrees Recognition Movement in Spain, stressed that the protest is not against the host country but for a legitimate right enshrined in law. He criticized the halt in recognizing Cuban credentials in Spain. Although the law stipulates a maximum six-month period for recognition, the average wait time is around two years. During this period, doctors must make a living by working in cafes, restaurants, and other non-related jobs.
Iranian pediatrician Rami Ahmadi, president of the Just Recognition Now movement, highlighted that the delay in resolving more than 100,000 applications significantly impacts the Spanish economy, especially given the post-pandemic healthcare crisis.