The Cuban doctor Eduardo Chacón Bayard, a specialist in Internal Medicine, was found dead this Tuesday in the hotel room where he was staying in Ometepec, Guerrero, local media reported, such as Diario Alternativo and Despierta Ayutla.
Chacón Bayard provided services at the IMSS-Bienestar General Hospital in Ometepec, where he had been attending to patients from the Costa Chica region for over two years.
So far, the authorities have not officially disclosed the cause of death. However, initial reports suggest it was due to natural causes.
The media Reporte C indicated that, based on the gathered evidence, the specialist may have suffered a heart attack, although this version has not yet been confirmed by the authorities.
People close to the doctor indicated that in the days prior, he had experienced dizziness and signs of weakness, although it has not been reported whether he was suffering from any diagnosed illness.
A farewell marked by the recognition of colleagues and patients
The IMSS-Bienestar General Hospital of Ometepec publicly mourned the passing of the doctor through a post on Facebook.
"With deep sorrow, we regret the passing of Dr. Eduardo Chacón Bayard, a specialist in Internal Medicine," stated the institution in a notice, also extending condolences to "his family, friends, and colleagues of the Cuban Medical Brigade."
That message was accompanied by numerous displays of affection on social media. One of the most moving was posted by the user Luchya Cabrera, who described the doctor as a professional who left a deep mark on the community.
"Today, the IMSS-Bienestar Hospital in Ometepec loses more than just an internist. We lose a colleague, a friend, a human being who, through his simplicity, humanity, and vocation for service, earned the respect, affection, and admiration of both patients and staff," he wrote.
The publication highlights that their dedication to medicine "transcended scientific knowledge" and that with each patient they left "a gesture of hope, a word of encouragement, and a commitment to always provide the best care."
The message also emphasizes the impact of his unexpected death on those who worked with him. "It is hard to understand that someone who dedicated his life to caring for the health of others has left so suddenly, far from the land that saw him born and from the arms of his family," the text states.
Colleagues also mourned his departure. Manuel Chacón emphasized that the specialist "worked with great humanity in this city" and stated that his efforts were widely acknowledged by both the hospital staff and the community.
Expressions of grief extended beyond the hospital staff. Dozens of patients and residents of Ometepec flooded social media with farewell messages, recalling the Cuban doctor for his warm demeanor, his dedication to service, and the time he devoted to each patient.
Rosario Cardona Vélez recounted that she traveled from Acapulco for the specialist to treat her son, after being advised to seek out the "Cuban doctor."
"We arrived around five in the afternoon, just as it was time for him to leave, but that didn’t stop him from attending to my son immediately. We will always remember him in our hearts," she wrote.
Other patients lamented that they will no longer be able to see him in consultation. "I can't believe it, I was due for my appointment with him soon," commented Rosita Oliva, while Conchis Maldonado expressed with sadness, "There won't be a next appointment."
Several testimonies agreed in highlighting not only his professional ability but also his human warmth. "He was an excellent doctor," "very kind to patients," "a great human being," and "he always had a word of encouragement" were some of the most repeated expressions among those who knew him.
He arrived in Mexico as part of the medical cooperation program
According to Diario Alternativo, Chacón Bayard arrived in Ometepec in 2024 as part of the medical cooperation program between Cuba and Mexico, aimed at strengthening healthcare in communities lacking specialists.
Her death adds to other fatalities reported among Cuban doctors participating in the IMSS-Bienestar program.
In January 2025, Dr. Asiel Pérez Rocillo died suddenly while working at the Integral Hospital of Xicotepec in the state of Puebla. Months later, Dr. Zunilda Torres Rodríguez passed away unexpectedly in Xalapa, Veracruz, prompting the Cuban Embassy in Mexico to initiate the process for repatriating her remains.
A program under international scrutiny
The medical cooperation program between Cuba and Mexico has been in operation since 2022 under the IMSS-Bienestar framework and has brought hundreds of Cuban specialists to hospitals in hard-to-reach areas. Guerrero ranks among the states with the highest presence of these professionals, and Ometepec is one of the municipalities where health services have been strengthened.
However, the program has faced scrutiny from international organizations. In April 2026, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) recommended that countries in the region disengage from such agreements, after warning of signs of wage retention, restrictions on freedom of movement, and other conditions that could compromise the labor rights of Cuban doctors.
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