An advertisement published by a Cuban private cleaning company caught the attention of internet users on the Island by offering salaries that far exceed the earnings of doctors working in Cuba.
Disseminated on Revolico and social media, the announcement from the Mipyme ECONOVA SURL outlined its job openings for positions related to cleaning in hospitals in Havana, with salaries reaching up to 20,000 Cuban pesos (CUP).
Among the available positions, the salaries offered for the Head of Services role stand out at 20,000 CUP, followed by the Emergency Supervisor position at 13,000 CUP and the Cleaning Assistant role at 11,250 CUP.
Furthermore, ECONOVA SURL guarantees that all personnel will receive equipment such as gloves, work boots, uniforms, and the necessary materials to perform their duties.
The salary figures offered by the Mipyme stand in stark contrast to the earnings received by Cuban doctors, who, after years of training and professional effort, face remarkably low wages in comparison to the high cost of living on the Island.
According to official figures, a newly graduated doctor earns 4,610 CUP per month, a figure that rises slightly to 5,060 CUP after starting their residency and to 5,560 CUP upon completing their specialization.
Despite the salary reform of 2021 and recent adjustments in 2024, remuneration continues to be insufficient in the face of inflation.
Authorities have implemented additional payments for night shifts, exposure, and complexity, as well as increases based on years of service. However, even with these improvements, the most experienced doctors barely earn a monthly salary of 7,500 CUP, including teaching and scientific categories.
This income, which should reflect the specialization and experience accumulated, does not meet basic needs in a context of economic crisis.
The job offer from ECONOVA SURL sparks a debate about the disparity between the salaries of technical professions and those of essential workers such as doctors, who, in addition to being poorly paid, work under adverse conditions with a lack of resources.
The situation raises questions about salary priorities in the Cuban economy and the increasing appeal of Mipymes as employment alternatives.
The precariousness of wages and the contradictions within the medical system in Cuba.
The situation of doctors in Cuba has come under increasing scrutiny due to low salaries and challenging working conditions, despite their essential role in the country's public health system.
Over the years, what was once an admired profession with social recognition has been marked by economic limitations and widespread discontent among doctors, many of whom accept gifts and "donations" from their grateful patients.
According to recent testimonies, even doctors with over a decade of experience and specialization are unable to meet their basic needs.
An example is the case of Dr. María Martínez, who, after more than 11 years of working in the healthcare sector, has been unable to acquire her own home and lives in modest conditions with her family. This testimony reflects a reality shared by many professionals in the sector, who often rely on family resources to get by.
The salary of Cuban doctors, although higher than that of other professions in the country, is insufficient in the context of inflation and the scarcity of basic goods.
In 2024, the average salary of an experienced doctor with multiple specializations reaches 7,500 Cuban pesos per month, approximately 20 dollars in the informal currency market. This barely covers a fraction of the costs of the basic basket, which includes food and essential services.
The Cuban regime has attempted to implement salary increases in key sectors such as health and education. For 2024, a budget increase was announced that would allocate more than 13 billion pesos to public health.
However, these increases are perceived as insufficient to counteract the massive exodus of doctors abroad or to more profitable economic activities within the island.
In addition, the medical missions abroad, touted by the government as an achievement of international solidarity, are one of the main sources of income for the Cuban state.
In 2018, these programs generated over $6.4 billion, double the revenue obtained from tourism during the same period. However, the doctors involved in these missions report precarious working conditions, low salaries, and restrictions on freedom, leading international organizations to classify these practices as a form of forced labor.
In summary, the precariousness of medical salaries in Cuba and the policies regarding the export of medical services have highlighted the contradictions within the system. Although the government attempts to promote salary incentives and export programs as a solution, Cuban doctors continue to face serious challenges in leading a dignified life within their own country.
The deplorable hygiene conditions in Cuban hospitals.
The hygienic situation in Cuban hospitals reflects the deep crisis affecting the public health system on the island. Recent reports highlight the unsanitary conditions faced by patients, their families, and medical staff in rundown facilities that lack basic resources to maintain minimum standards of cleanliness and health.
An alarming example is the Children's Hospital Sur in Santiago de Cuba, where the bathrooms show an extreme level of dirtiness, with broken facilities and no maintenance, while patients, including children, and their companions have to cope with the lack of water and cleaning supplies. Mothers report that these conditions can worsen illnesses or lead to additional infections.
At the Mártires del 9 de Abril Hospital in Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, the images show blocked bathrooms surrounded by trash and completely unusable.
This situation is repeated in other facilities across the country, such as the Salvador Allende Clinical Surgical Hospital in Havana, where patients not only face inadequate infrastructure but also the lack of clean sheets and basic personal hygiene supplies.
These shortcomings not only impact the quality of medical services but also increase the risks of acquiring hospital infections, creating a sense of helplessness for both patients and healthcare workers.
Despite frequent reports, official responses are often insufficient, sometimes blaming the patients themselves for the deplorable conditions.
The lack of basic supplies, cleaning staff, and proper resource management highlights the seriousness of the problem. The hygiene conditions in Cuban hospitals have become one of the main concerns for the population, which demands urgent solutions to ensure a minimum level of dignity and health safety.
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