Cuban content creator Briana Espino has shed light on why her mother, a doctor in Cuba, has ventured into a side business to earn additional income, as her salary is insufficient.
In an Instagram video, Briana shared how she assists her mother in selling homemade flans to make ends meet. The family's basic needs cannot be met on her monthly earnings alone.
"My mom is a doctor in Cuba, and this is her side hustle. Her monthly salary amounts to 8,000 Cuban pesos working in a hospital and saving lives, which translates to 20 dollars," Briana explains in the video.
The young woman starkly illustrates the harsh reality faced by thousands of healthcare professionals on the island.
"It's truly painful to see someone dedicate six years to their education, graduate in their passion, only to end up selling flans because their salary falls short," she continues.
Briana further highlights that her mother can earn in just two days of selling flans what she makes in a month as a doctor.
"Most doctors in Cuba need to supplement their income with additional work, as their monthly salary is barely enough for anything," Briana points out.
Briana's mother's situation is not unique. A Cuban worker earns roughly five dollars a month based on the informal exchange rate of April 2026, when the dollar was valued at over 520 pesos on the black market.
For two people living in Havana, the basic monthly expenses exceed 41,000 pesos, meaning a doctor's salary only covers about 16% of the basic cost of living.
Faced with this reality, many professionals choose to emigrate or engage in informal entrepreneurship. Between 2021 and 2024, Cuba lost around 77,522 healthcare professionals. In July 2025, the Minister of Health himself acknowledged the collapse of the healthcare system.
The average Cuban salary in 2025 was approximately 6,930 pesos, which in the informal market equates to just over 13 dollars.
"It's astounding how selling flans, which requires neither the study nor the effort of a doctor, can earn as much in two days as a healthcare professional makes in a month," Briana concludes, encapsulating in one sentence the tragedy of a system that has devalued both knowledge and vocation.
Challenges Facing Cuban Healthcare Professionals
Why do Cuban doctors need additional income sources?
Cuban doctors often need to find extra income sources because their salaries are insufficient to cover basic living expenses due to the country's economic conditions.
What is the average monthly salary for a doctor in Cuba?
The average monthly salary for a doctor in Cuba is around 8,000 Cuban pesos, equivalent to approximately 20 dollars.
How does the cost of living compare to doctors' salaries in Cuba?
The cost of living in Havana exceeds 41,000 pesos for two people, while a doctor's salary covers only about 16% of these expenses.