Maura, a seasoned anesthesiologist with decades of professional experience, now walks through the streets of Camagüey, gathering bags filled with cans she collects one by one. She sells these recyclable materials in a desperate effort to survive.
Her plight was brought to light on Facebook by activist Christian Arbolaez, with video footage by David Vela, sparking a wave of sympathy and outrage over the stark contrast between her impressive career and her current predicament.
According to Arbolaez’s post, Maura, at 73 years old, continues to work despite having already applied for retirement. Her combined salary and pension fall short of covering even her most basic needs.
While anesthesiology ranks among the most demanding and well-compensated medical fields globally, Cuban practitioners earn between 5,000 and 8,000 Cuban pesos (CUP) monthly—roughly equivalent to ten to twenty dollars on the informal market.
For a household of two, the basic food basket exceeds 41,000 CUP monthly, meaning the income of a specialist doctor in Cuba covers less than 20% of what is needed to feed a family.
Maura’s commitment to medicine extends through her family, with one daughter being a doctor and the other a nurse. Despite their collective dedication to healthcare, Maura has been forced into the streets to collect cans.
Those who have encountered her recently are struck not only by her story but also by her poise and grace. One couple stopped to offer her money, which she accepted graciously before continuing on her way with her bags.
“It’s painful to see a woman with such education and values having to resort to collecting cans to eat. This isn’t someone who refused to work; she’s a highly qualified specialist,” Arbolaez lamented.
The Broader Crisis in Healthcare in Cuba
Maura’s situation is far from unique. Recently, a Cuban doctor revealed how she spends her entire salary in just one day, highlighting the dire economic conditions faced by professionals. Reports of skilled workers living in poverty have become increasingly common.
Even after adjustments in September 2025, retirement pensions remain below 4,000 CUP a month, barely making a dent in basic living costs. Prior to these adjustments, the minimum pension was just 1,528 CUP, or less than five dollars.
The healthcare sector's woes are compounded by the Cuban government's decision to export over 24,000 doctors to 56 countries as a revenue source, leaving the domestic system in shambles. In 2024, the number of doctors within Cuba decreased by 5,399 compared to the previous year.
Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa acknowledged in February 2025 that “you cannot live on a salary of 6,000 pesos,” yet no substantial solutions have been provided for healthcare workers.
Arbolaez concluded his post with a poignant question that echoes the frustration of those who have heard Maura’s story: “How can it be that a 73-year-old anesthesiologist must collect cans to survive?”
Understanding the Challenges Faced by Cuban Doctors
Why are Cuban doctors like Maura struggling financially?
Cuban doctors are struggling financially due to low salaries and pensions that do not cover basic living expenses, compounded by economic mismanagement and prioritization of exporting medical professionals over domestic needs.
What measures have been taken to address the financial issues of Cuban healthcare workers?
Despite some pension adjustments, no substantial measures have been implemented to address the financial struggles of healthcare workers, leaving many like Maura in precarious situations.