Ester, a Cuban doctor identified on social media as @evairis.balbu, has gone viral after posting a video in which she illustrates, with concrete figures, the real impact of her salary in Cuba.
In the recording, the young doctor details that she spent 13,050 Cuban pesos on a basic grocery purchase that included a dozen eggs, one kilogram of sugar, rice, beans, two packages of chicken liver, and one package of chicken thighs.
According to his explanation, that food lasts for only about 20 days, and even then, his salary does not allow him to cover other essential expenses such as internet access, transportation, clothing, or personal hygiene products.
"That's why I also work in the private sector," she confesses in the video, where she speaks candidly about the economic challenges she faces despite her high level of professional training.
The basic salary of a recently graduated doctor in Cuba is 5,060 pesos, which is equivalent to about 10 dollars at the informal exchange rate.
In his case, he receives an additional 1,140 pesos for pursuing a specialty. This is supplemented by payments for medical shifts, which amount to 600 pesos for shifts from Monday to Friday, 1,100 pesos on Saturdays, and 1,150 pesos on Sundays. In total, they complete between five and six shifts per month.
The doctor explains that effort does not translate into economic stability, as inflation in the country leaves workers without access to basic goods and services.
"I hope that the sacrifice I am making studying neurosurgery will be worth something one day," he concludes, reflecting a reality shared by thousands of health professionals in Cuba.
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