The health councilor in Ayotoxco de Guerrero, in the Mexican state of Puebla, ordered the arrest of two Cuban doctors who recently arrived in the municipality to provide services at the community hospital of that rural area.
According to a video broadcast by the local press, the official "confused" the doctors "with criminals" and, supported by a patrol, took them to the Municipal Palace, where they were held without justification, although they were later released.
"The performance of the doctors has been very good," reported the complainant of the incident, who regretted the actions of the official - identified as María Luisa Suárez Reyes - whose conduct has been described as incomprehensible and arbitrary.
The detention of the doctors has raised concerns among residents, who fear that the councilor's actions may jeopardize the continuity of health services in the region.
"They are disappointed, they are scared," the complainant added in reference to the doctors, emphasizing that it is not right for them to be treated that way.
"We understand that they are in another country and that being treated this way is not correct. What is more reprehensible in this case is that it is precisely the health councilor who commits this action [...] It is very clear that the lady does not know them, does not know that these doctors arrived," he concluded.
The citizen who reported the incident expressed her concern for the well-being of the doctors and criticized the councilor's lack of involvement in public health matters, while urging her to visit the hospital, learn about its needs, and improve her performance as a public servant.
The two Cuban doctors who were victims of the detention -whose identities have not been disclosed- are part of a contingent of 2,700 Cuban specialists sent by the federal government, as part of an initiative by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) to meet the needs of 282 hospitals in rural and highly marginalized areas.
Cuban medical mission in Mexico on the rise
Amid the severe crisis of public health services in Cuba, those 2,700 doctors left their positions on the island to join the nearly 1,000 Cuban professionals already providing assistance in Mexican territory.
As the shortage of doctors in Cuban hospitals increases, the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel is ramping up the export of qualified medical personnel to Mexico and other countries as much as it can.
In many of those countries, Cuban doctors have to face hostility from healthcare professionals in the host country, who reject their presence seeing them as competition or not considering them qualified, as well as from health officials, as is the case here.
The elected president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that she will continue hiring doctors from the island despite strong criticism labeling the program as a form of funding for the Cuban dictatorial regime.
Sheinbaum revealed in early July that in a meeting with Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, the possibility of continuing to bring Cuban doctors to Mexico was discussed, at least during the first year of her administration.
Meanwhile, voices in Mexico continue to question the government’s decision to hire Cuban professionals without considering the recognition of their completed studies.
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