A Cuban doctor, who is known on social media as María Magdalena Lasacerdotisa, posted a concerning video on Facebook this Monday. She claims she's facing accusations both at her clinic and with the police, warning that a severe wave of repression is about to begin against her.
Specializing in Comprehensive General Medicine, the doctor explained that she had placed her daughter—who suffers from chondromalacia in her leg and is unable to climb stairs—in the nursing area of her office, an otherwise unused space. According to her, authorities are exploiting this situation to level charges against her.
"They are accusing me at the clinic and with the police, and they are coming here," she declared in the video, which quickly garnered over 35,000 views within a few hours.
Rather than backing down, she announced her intention to escalate her actions: "I will expose everything happening at my clinic by name, from the management to the Human Resources Department and even the municipality. This is just the beginning. More revelations will follow."
Background of the Controversy
This incident builds on a viral moment from last Thursday, when the same doctor released a nearly six-minute video stating she refused to distribute "charge sheets" because she had to purchase them along with pens out of her own pocket, as the state failed to provide these materials.
The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (ICLEP) reported on June 9 that the doctor was also harassed for refusing to sign the regime's official campaign "Mi Firma por la Patria," adding a political dimension to her plight.
Cuban Healthcare System Under Strain
This doctor's case reflects the deep crisis within the Cuban healthcare system. Cuban doctors earn between $10 and $16 a month, while the basic needs for two people in Havana exceed 41,000 pesos monthly.
Numerous doctors confirmed in comments on her videos that they have been purchasing their own supplies for years. Some pointed out that these charge sheets are used to "inflate" health statistics that don't accurately represent reality, pressuring professionals to fabricate data.
Similar Incidents Across Cuba
This is not an isolated incident. For instance, oncologist Álvaro Pérez Pérez, the only specialist on the Isle of Youth, was fined 4,000 pesos on June 6 for selling notebooks and used clothing outside his home to supplement his income. Meanwhile, Dr. Liliana Isabel Salazar Villariño left the medical profession in May, as her salary never reached 10,000 pesos despite working more than five night shifts a month.
Additionally, this Monday saw a surge of outrage among Cuban-regulated doctors, as healthcare professionals collectively voiced their frustration over the regime's travel restrictions, preventing them from leaving the country.
FAQs on the Cuban Healthcare Crisis
What sparked the doctor's accusations against her clinic?
The doctor placed her daughter, who has chondromalacia, in an unused nursing area of her clinic, which authorities are now using to accuse her.
What are the broader implications of her case?
Her case highlights the severe shortages and systemic issues within Cuba's healthcare system, where doctors are underpaid and often have to purchase their own supplies.
How have other Cuban doctors been affected by similar issues?
Other doctors have faced fines and have had to leave the profession due to low wages and the need to supplement their income through other means.