After dedicating nearly 30 years to public health, participating in numerous international missions, and repeatedly requesting permission to permanently leave the country, Dr. José Manuel Suárez Villalobos from Camagüey continues his fight for the right to reunite with his family abroad. In a TikTok video shared by Cubanos por el Mundo, Dr. Suárez Villalobos, a surgeon at Armando Enrique Cardoso Hospital in Guáimaro, Camagüey, voiced his outrage over the restrictions imposed on healthcare professionals by the Cuban government. “I am reaching out to all authorities demanding justice and freedom for myself,” he declared.
Born on January 12, 1972, Dr. Suárez condemned the ministerial regulations that curtail the freedom of Cuban doctors, preventing them from traveling freely or visiting their relatives. “I demand my freedom. I have worked 28 years in the health sector, including three international missions. I have requested release five times to live with my children and meet my grandchildren, and I have been denied every time,” he stated with frustration.
Dr. Suárez emphasized that he has fulfilled his obligations to the country and questioned the legitimacy of the constraints he faces: “I believe 28 years in the health sector is more than enough to have fulfilled my duty. I owe nothing to anyone and I demand my freedom,” he asserted.
His case highlights the plight of many Cuban doctors who, after years of service to the public health system and participation in international missions, find themselves trapped by harsh regulations that strip them of their right to make decisions about their lives and futures.
In May, Dr. Suárez told journalist Javier Díaz, “How long must I endure the punishment for becoming a specialist doctor?” he expressed indignantly, echoing the sentiments of many colleagues forced by the regime to work under precarious conditions, while also being denied the opportunity to leave the island.
Graduating from the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey in 1996, Dr. Suárez reached out to Díaz in a desperate plea to bring global attention to the violation of his freedoms, including his right to freely enter and exit his homeland.
Dr. Suárez recounted working on three international missions for a salary of $20 USD per month, and at times less, as his earnings in Venezuela amounted to 225 CUC monthly, barely covering his basic needs. “I believe I have contributed to the country, and if I still owe something, it should not be grounds for such an unjust punishment,” remarked the doctor who remains confined on the island, seeing his loved ones, including children and grandchildren, only through a phone screen.
The physician revealed that on multiple occasions he has asked to be released from "the regulations or restrictions preventing me from having a passport and traveling like any Cuban citizen, and I have been denied despite not being essential in my hospital or the municipality where I reside."
Understanding the Struggles of Cuban Healthcare Professionals
Why can't Dr. Suárez Villalobos leave Cuba?
Dr. Suárez Villalobos is restricted by Cuban governmental regulations that limit the freedom of healthcare professionals, preventing them from traveling freely or reuniting with their families abroad.
What has Dr. Suárez contributed to the Cuban healthcare system?
Dr. Suárez has dedicated 28 years to the public health sector, including three international missions, providing valuable medical services both in Cuba and abroad.
How do the restrictions impact Cuban doctors?
Restrictions severely limit the ability of Cuban doctors to travel, affecting their personal lives and preventing them from reuniting with family members living outside the country.
What are the financial conditions for Cuban doctors on international missions?
Cuban doctors on international missions often receive low salaries, sometimes as little as $20 USD per month, which barely covers their essential living expenses.