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Neither the Secretariat of Health, nor the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), nor IMSS-Bienestar know if the Cuban doctors working in Mexico are fulfilling the objective for which they were hired, which they state was to serve rural and marginalized areas where Mexican professionals refuse to work.
According to a study by El Universal, based on transparency requests, none of the three institutions has metrics, indicators, or reports regarding the performance, productivity, or specialization of the doctors sent by the regime of Havana since 2022. In practice, they “pass the ball” between themselves to determine who should provide the information, while the official evaluation never materializes.
Mexican press has been particularly incisive in monitoring the work of Cuban doctors in the country. Investigations not only point to the opacity in the use of public resources but also to allegations of human exploitation, the infiltration of Cuban State Security agents in the missions, and the millions in payments that go to the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
These reports have scrutinized a program that, although defended by the government of Claudia Sheinbaum and her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is internationally criticized as a political and economic mechanism that benefits La Habana more than the patients it claims to serve.
A million-dollar expenditure without accountability
The health collaboration, recently defended by Sheinbaum despite criticism from the United States and international organizations, has cost Mexico more than 2,019 million pesos (about 105 million dollars) in less than three years.
Of that amount, a portion has gone directly to the Cuban state company Comercializadora de Servicios Cubanos, while the rest covers lodging, transportation, specialized food, and a permanent driver for the brigade members.
Nevertheless, IMSS, IMSS-Bienestar, and the Secretariat of Health acknowledge that they are unaware of key data such as the number of consultations performed, covered shifts, or the exact location of each doctor. They also do not know how much of that money reaches the hands of the professionals, classified as "external collaborators" rather than employees.
The program is part of the medical services export model that the Cuban government itself recognizes as a strategic source of foreign currency, with more than 24,000 healthcare workers deployed abroad.
Washington and human rights organizations classify it as “modern slavery”, claiming that professionals face passport confiscation, surveillance, and abusive salary deductions.
While the Bahamas has chosen to pay doctors directly to avoid benefiting the regime, Mexico maintains the current scheme, which transfers funds to Havana without public oversight regarding its distribution or the results of the service.
The lack of evaluations not only obscures the use of Mexican public resources but also exacerbates the plight of thousands of Cuban doctors working abroad under imposed contracts and without job security.
On the island, empty hospitals, a shortage of staff, and the exodus of professionals continue to highlight the health crisis, while the government prioritizes the export of its medical services as a business.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Doctors in Mexico
Why doesn’t the Mexican government assess the performance of Cuban doctors?
The Mexican government has no metrics or reports on the performance of Cuban doctors due to a lack of coordination between the Ministry of Health, the IMSS, and IMSS-Bienestar, which hold each other accountable without providing concrete evaluations.
How much has Mexico spent on hiring Cuban doctors?
Mexico has spent over 2,019 million pesos (about 105 million dollars) in less than three years on hiring Cuban doctors, covering lodging, transportation, food, and other expenses, without clarity on the distribution of funds.
What criticisms does the program of Cuban doctors in Mexico face?
The program faces criticism for the lack of transparency in the use of public resources, allegations of human exploitation, infiltration by Cuban agents, and million-dollar payments to the Havana regime, with no accountability or clear benefits for Mexican patients.
How do Cuba and the Díaz-Canel regime benefit from medical missions?
The Díaz-Canel regime benefits economically from medical missions by receiving international payments that do not reach Cuban doctors in full, who work under conditions of state control and reduced salaries.
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