The Mexican government has allocated more than 2 billion 19 million Mexican pesos, equivalent to over 105 million U.S. dollars, for the maintenance, distribution, and hiring of Cuban doctors in its territory, between 2022 and 2025.
The funds were channeled through the IMSS-Bienestar program, as part of a bilateral agreement with the Cuban regime, which many consider an indirect form of financing for the Havana government by Mexico.
According to El Universal, based on a request for official information and documents available on the Compras MX platform, the funds were delivered both in local currency and in euros to Mexican and Cuban companies, including the state-owned Comercializadora de Servicios Cubanos, S.A., as payment for medical services.
Of the total, at least 472 million pesos were paid to this Cuban company between July 2022 and December 2023. The payment, made entirely in euros, amounts to over 23 million, distributed across three agreements.
The same research revealed that IMSS-Bienestar is unaware of how much of the money actually reaches the hands of healthcare professionals, who are classified as “external collaborators” and not direct employees, raising questions about the program's opacity.
The contracts also include million-dollar payments to Mexican companies for the accommodation, transportation, and meals of the Cuban brigadistas. Only between April and May 2025, IMSS-Bienestar paid over 1,274 million pesos to five Mexican companies for the comprehensive logistics of the doctors.
The conditions include accommodation with appliances, a special diet three times a day, and permanent transportation with a driver, as well as 24/7 assistance to facilitate any additional arrangements or transfers.
In total, the doctors have been distributed across at least 24 Mexican states, including Chiapas, Veracruz, Guerrero, Sonora, Yucatán, Oaxaca, and others.
The number of “external collaborators” can reach up to 4,845 professionals, according to the technical annexes of the contracts. So far, the official presence of at least 809 Cuban doctors deployed in Mexican territory has been reported, according to the documents cited by El Universal.
The existing contracts cover periods until the end of October 2024 and May 2025, indicating that the collaboration will continue, at least, throughout the current Mexican government.
This revelation comes a few weeks after the United States imposed visa restrictions on Central American officials linked to these programs, as it considers that they promote labor exploitation under the guise of medical cooperation. Washington has denounced that the Cuban regime uses these agreements as its main source of foreign currency while restricting the autonomy and real wages of the exported workers.
In addition to the criticisms from Washington, international organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) have requested information from the OAS regarding these medical missions, expressing concerns about potential violations of labor and human rights.
Just a few days ago, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, defended the legitimacy of the program for hiring Cuban doctors through which millions of dollars have been transferred to the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The president reiterated her commitment to the health cooperation she maintains with the dictatorship in Havana despite the sanctions announced by the U.S. government against Central American officials linked to the program for exporting Cuban doctors.
There is a contract for Cuban doctors to assist the population in Mexico. "We see no problem with that," the leader stated at a press conference.
In contrast, the government of Bahamas opted for a model that avoids benefiting the Cuban regime. Following discussions with the United States, it announced the cancellation of state contracts with Cuban medical brigades and instead proposed direct labor agreements with health professionals who wish to stay in the country.
According to the Minister of Health, Michael Darville, those who do not accept this new arrangement will have time to organize their return to Cuba.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuban Doctors in Mexico and Their Impact
How much has Mexico paid for Cuban doctors?
Mexico has paid more than 105 million US dollars to the Cuban regime for the hiring of Cuban doctors through the IMSS-Bienestar program, between 2022 and 2025. This amount has faced criticism for being seen as an indirect form of funding for the Cuban government.
How does the presence of Cuban doctors affect medical students in Mexico?
The arrival of Cuban doctors has generated concern in the medical schools of Mexico, such as in San Luis Potosí, where it has been noted that the presence of these doctors affects the distribution of spaces allocated for the social service of students. This has led to a reduction in opportunities for interns and raised questions about the quality of training of Cuban doctors.
What is the United States' stance on Cuban medical missions?
The United States has condemned Cuban medical missions as a form of labor exploitation and human trafficking. The Cuban regime earns over $4.9 billion a year from these missions, while restricting the autonomy and salaries of doctors. Washington has imposed visa restrictions on officials related to these programs.
Why does Mexico continue to hire Cuban doctors despite the criticism?
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has defended the legitimacy of the program for hiring Cuban doctors, stating that she sees no problem with Cuban doctors assisting the population in Mexico. Despite the sanctions announced by the United States, the Mexican government remains committed to healthcare cooperation with Cuba.
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