A Cuban doctor, known on social media as Maria Magdalena Lasacerdotisa, recently posted a video on Facebook expressing her refusal to continue providing the so-called "charge sheets" at her clinic. She explained that she has to purchase these forms and the pens to fill them out from her own funds.
The nearly six-minute video quickly garnered close to 59,000 views, almost 3,000 likes, and over 500 comments. The video struck a chord with many Cubans, both on the island and abroad, who resonated with her grievances.
The Doctor's Stand: A Matter of Principle
"I will not hand out a single charge sheet anymore; this is not rebellion, it is merely coherence," stated the doctor, who specializes in General Comprehensive Medicine (MGI). Her calm demeanor starkly contrasted with the serious issues she was highlighting.
She recounted how the clinic's statistics department contacted her eight days into the month to demand the forms she hadn't submitted. Her decision is a straightforward one: the state fails to provide her with paper and pens, while her salary—unpaid at the time of the recording—is insufficient to cover these expenses.
"I buy the paper, I buy the pens, sometimes my patients give them to me as gifts. I refuse to keep paying to work in this country because that's what we're doing—paying to work," she declared.
A Glimpse into Everyday Struggles
In the video, she also mentioned that she paid 1,000 Cuban pesos for a cup of coffee, and described a garbage dump just two blocks from her workplace where people scavenged for food.
"How long will public health remain mired in mediocrity, stupidity, and ignorance? How much longer will we continue to turn everything into paperwork?" she questioned.
Addressing the system directly, she posed a question that reverberated among her viewers: "In what country do you have to pay to work? Slavery is still here, and fear persists," she said, tapping her temple.
Widespread Resonance and Support
The salary conditions she described are indeed verifiable: as of 2026, a Cuban doctor earns between 5,060 and 8,000 pesos monthly, equivalent to roughly 10 to 16 dollars on the informal market, while the basic cost of living for two people in Havana exceeds 41,000 pesos each month.
The video sparked a flood of reactions on social media. Many doctors and health sector workers confirmed in the comments that they have been buying their own sheets and pens for years. "I’ve been a general comprehensive medicine specialist for 20 years, and we've always paid to work, now more than ever. I support you," wrote one of them. Another summed up the situation succinctly: "And this is the only country in the world... where you struggle... to work."
Additionally, several commenters noted that the charge sheets are used to "inflate" health statistics that don't reflect reality, and that doctors are pressured to fabricate data on them.
Political Repercussions and a Call for Change
According to the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press, the doctor has also faced workplace harassment and intimidation for refusing to sign the pro-government "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign, adding a political reprisal dimension to her case.
In a follow-up video that also exceeded 56,000 views, the doctor rejected calls for military intervention and clarified her stance: "Cubans are asking for freedom, dignity, and basic human needs: light, water, food, the ability to achieve, to express themselves freely, to exist."
This isn't the first time a Cuban doctor has voiced concerns over intolerable working conditions, but the reach of her videos and the intensity of the reactions highlight a frustration that can no longer be contained.
Insights into Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
Why is the Cuban doctor refusing to provide charge sheets?
The doctor refuses to provide charge sheets because she has to purchase them and the pens needed to fill them out with her own money, as the state does not supply these materials.
What challenges do Cuban doctors face regarding their salaries?
Cuban doctors earn between 5,060 and 8,000 pesos monthly, which is roughly 10 to 16 dollars on the informal market, while the cost of living in Havana is significantly higher, making it difficult to cover basic expenses.
How have other medical professionals in Cuba responded to her video?
Many other doctors and health workers have expressed solidarity, confirming that they too have been buying their own materials for years and acknowledging the shared struggle in their profession.