Rising violence in Mexico has necessitated the withdrawal of Cuban doctors who were providing medical services to the residents of El Palmito in Concordia, Sinaloa, according to local media reports. The state's Health Secretary, Cuitláhuac González Galindo, confirmed that due to the unsafe conditions in the area, the Cuban embassy requested the doctors to leave the state.
Violence Turns El Palmito into a Ghost Town
Initially, Cuban doctors were hired to address the challenge of maintaining a permanent medical staff in this remote community. Since September 9th, organized crime has transformed El Palmito into a ghost town, forcing nearly all inhabitants to abandon their homes and relocate to other parts of the state or to Durango. The recent surge in violence has made it impossible to continue providing medical care in the region.
Medical Professionals Face Unprecedented Risks
González Galindo noted that these Cuban doctors are not accustomed to the stress and insecurity prevalent in Sinaloa's current environment. He also discussed the situation of other health centers in the state, citing incidents such as the armed assault on the IMSS Bienestar Hospital in Villa Unión, where gunmen demanded medical attention for an injured associate. While some hospitals have had to shut down temporarily due to safety concerns, most health units remain operational.
The Broader Impact of Violence on Healthcare
The violence in Sinaloa not only affects civilians but also endangers healthcare professionals who are dispatched to work in these perilous conditions. Earlier this September, it was reported that 77 Cuban doctors were stationed in Sinaloa, many assigned to rural areas avoided by local professionals. In July, amidst Cuba's severe public health crisis, 2,700 Cuban doctors left their positions on the island to join another 1,000 Cuban professionals already assisting in Mexican hospitals, as announced by the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Mexican Government's Reliance on Cuban Medical Staff
During his daily morning press conference at the National Palace, the Mexican president announced the upcoming arrival of these doctors and reiterated his gratitude to the Cuban regime for supporting his administration’s efforts to adequately staff the public health system. Meanwhile, the shortage of doctors in Cuban hospitals, polyclinics, and neighborhood clinics, coupled with the scarcity of medications and supplies, jeopardizes the health of the Cuban population. Despite these domestic challenges, Miguel Díaz-Canel's government continues to expand the export of qualified medical professionals to Mexico and other countries, many of which are plagued by violence, putting Cuban doctors at risk.