A young Cuban refugee in Peru used his TikTok account to expose the reality of the healthcare system on the island and debunk the myths that the regime has maintained for decades.
Leandro Hernández, known on TikTok as @leoibarra1112, shared a testimony in which he criticized the healthcare on the island and the official propaganda that presents it as a model to follow.
"Today I’m not feeling very well health-wise; in fact, I just got back from EsSalud... I was vaccinated for tetanus and influenza, and I had an allergic reaction to the vaccine," he explained in a video posted on his account. Despite the discomfort, the young man took the opportunity to share a deeper reflection: "I want to talk about something that happens to me quite often... The issue is that the vaccine... for years, as far back as I can remember, since I was a child, I wasn't vaccinated against anything."
She recounted that when she says this to people in Peru, they are often surprised: “But how is it that you aren’t getting vaccinated? Aren’t you Cuban? Isn’t healthcare in Cuba the best in the world?” And it was then that she pointed out: “How misled people are, and a big part of it is also our fault as Cubans... Out of pride, everyone wants to hear something good about their country, even if it’s a lie.”
Hernández compared the current situation to an addiction: “When someone wants to overcome alcoholism, the first thing they have to do is acknowledge that they have a problem with alcohol. That's what happens to us Cubans. Sometimes we feel ashamed to admit how bad our homeland is, but, brother, that's the reality.”
"We need to stop romanticizing Cuba, my friend. The Cuba of the last 60 years is not an example of anything, or rather, it is an example of what should not be done in a country," he asserted.
Cuba in the last 60 years is not an example of anything—well, it is an example of what not to do in a country
He also criticized the notion that healthcare in Cuba is free: “It is very expensive, starting with these little pills they gave me today, which didn’t come at an additional cost because my insurance covered them. In Cuba, they would cost the entire salary of a professional, in the informal market because the State doesn’t provide them.”
Although he acknowledged that there are qualified doctors on the island, he also pointed out irregularities within the system: “Are there good doctors? Yes, just like everywhere in the world. But, my friend, the stories about hospitals in Cuba are full of horror and mystery. Everyone knows it. There are doctors who traffic medications, there are nurses who inject you with water instead of the actual medication to then smuggle it…”
Hernández described the alleged Cuban medical prowess as “a well-sold lie by Fidel Castro” and denounced the medical brigades sent abroad: “They were never about solidarity; they were business... They paid Fidel Castro for each doctor, and he kept 90 percent of their salary... Justifying it by saying it was for fixing hospitals, hospitals that we all know were never repaired.”
Regarding the conditions of those who participate in these missions, he expressed: "Do you know what it's like to go on a mission for 5 or 6 years, to live under pressure, to live under threats, to live without your passport, to live being monitored... only to return to your country with 10% of your salary, to see if you can buy a small television, a washing machine, to see if you can fix the bathroom in your house?"
He also spoke about the political use of these brigades: “They have been the greatest Trojan horse the region has ever seen... Everyone welcomes an army of white coats, but in that army of white coats, there’s 30% doctors and 70% intelligence agents.”
Finally, he lamented: “It is very sad that we currently have nothing to be proud of... The jewel of the Caribbean has been destroyed and turned into the theme park of global leftism, where tourists come as if it were a safari to take pictures with misery.”
They destroyed the jewel of the Caribbean and turned it into the theme park of global leftism, where tourists go as if on a safari to take pictures with misery
The video generated a wave of reactions. Many users supported his testimony and shared similar experiences. Others remarked that it wasn't until they emigrated that they understood the extent of the propaganda surrounding Cuban medicine.
Before publishing this video, Leandro Hernández had already shared other experiences that marked his adaptation process outside the island. He arrived in Peru after being stranded at Jorge Chávez Airport in Lima, as he was denied entry to Nicaragua, and sought asylum since he could not return to Cuba. “Learning about the real world, because of course, man, they took me out of Narnia,” he said as he celebrated his first three months of legal stay in the country.
Some time later, he shared his first experience in a medical center outside of Cuba, where he received care with supplies, cleanliness, organization, and no hidden costs. “How they lied to us!” he said when comparing his experience in Peru with the deterioration he faced for years in the Cuban system.
Other testimonies align with that perception. A young Cuban in El Salvador expressed her astonishment at finding medications available in various forms, something she described as “abundance,” and she urged that medicine be sent to Cuba. Her reaction was not one of ostentation, but rather a response to the accessibility of basic products that are severely lacking on the island.
From Uruguay, another Cuban compared the local healthcare system with what he experienced in hospitals in Havana and asserted that “Uruguayans do not know what a hospital in poor conditions is like.” He explained that while there are appointments and waiting times, nothing compares to the unsanitary conditions and institutional collapse in Cuba.
Beyond citizen testimonials, a Cuban doctor with professional experience in Villa Clara and training in Spain has also debunked the narrative of "medical power". In his analysis, he argues that the regime’s propaganda has exploited the sacrifices of doctors to project an image that does not reflect reality. He spoke of salaries equivalent to 32 euros, crumbling hospitals, and exploitation disguised as solidarity.
The structural dimension of the problem has also been recognized internationally. The U.S. Department of State keeps Cuba at Level 3 in its annual report on human trafficking, the most severe category, due to practices of labor exploitation within medical missions. Among the documented irregularities are the confiscation of passports, surveillance, threats, restrictions on movement, and wage retention, elements that the report classifies as forms of modern slavery.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Healthcare System and Cuban Reality
Is it true that healthcare in Cuba is free and of high quality?
Although the Cuban government promotes the idea that healthcare is free and of high quality, many accounts, such as that of Leandro Hernández, indicate that the reality is different. Cubans pay for healthcare with repression, lack of freedom, and low wages. Furthermore, the system is rife with irregularities and shortages of medical supplies.
What are the Cuban medical brigades and why are they criticized?
Cuban medical brigades are groups of health professionals sent to work in other countries under the pretext of solidarity. However, these missions have been criticized for labor exploitation, as the Cuban government withholds a significant portion of the doctors' salaries and exerts control over them. Moreover, it has been reported that these brigades also serve intelligence activities.
What is the situation like in Cuban hospitals?
The situation in Cuban hospitals is critical. There are issues with unsanitary conditions, a lack of basic supplies, and deterioration of the facilities. Testimonies from residents and Cuban emigrants reveal that the infrastructure is in ruins and that patients must bring their own medical supplies.
What impact does Cuban propaganda have on the international perception of its healthcare system?
Cuban propaganda has sold the idea for decades that Cuba is a medical powerhouse, which has influenced international perception. However, an increasing number of testimonies from Cubans who emigrate are dismantling this image, revealing the deficiencies and abuses of the system. This propaganda has been used to justify the exploitation of healthcare professionals in international missions.
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