Cuba's government has set the starting salary for newly graduated doctors at 7,045 Cuban pesos (CUP) per month, as per Resolution 17/2026 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. This resolution was published in a Special Edition No. 8 of the Official Gazette on Tuesday, correcting the ordinary edition from July 17.
According to the regulation, general practitioners are placed in Group XVII of a 32-group wage scale. This adjustment is part of a broader series of salary increases for state-funded sectors that took effect on July 1, 2026, with payments reflected in the August payroll.
This revision marks a nominal increase from the 4,610 CUP that new doctors earned following the 2021 salary reform known as the "Tarea Ordenamiento." However, with the informal exchange rate exceeding 510 CUP per dollar, the new salary equates to merely 13 to 14 dollars per month, highlighting the severe decline in purchasing power in Cuba.
Health Sector Salary Structure
The salary structure for healthcare professionals includes a progression based on category: resident doctors earn 8,115 CUP (Group XX), first-grade specialists receive 8,500 CUP (Group XXI), and second-grade or dual-specialty specialists get 8,880 CUP (Group XXII).
For critical specializations like Anesthesiology, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Adult Intensive Care, the resolution provides 100 CUP per night hour and an extra 20 CUP per hour for "high performance."
Other healthcare staff also receive differentiated night shift rates: 50 CUP per hour for doctors and dentists, 40 CUP for nurses, and 30 CUP for technologists and technicians, applicable between 7 PM and 7 AM.
Economic Challenges and Workforce Exodus
The Cuban regime admitted that the new salaries "remain insufficient to cover the basic basket of goods and services," a stark contrast to the official portrayal of the salary adjustment as a social advancement.
Economist Javier Pérez Capdevila calculated that an individual in Cuba requires around 96,000 CUP monthly to meet basic needs, over 70,000 of which would be allocated to food alone. This leaves the new doctor's salary far below the necessary threshold.
The gap between income and living costs has sparked an unprecedented exodus of professionals: over 30,000 doctors left the National Health System between 2021 and 2024. In July 2025, the government confirmed that more than 24,000 healthcare workers were serving abroad.
Publication Clarifications and Financial Implications
The Official Gazette's introductory note clarified that the original July 17 publication contained "inaccurate data" due to an issuer error, prompting this revised edition with resolutions 15, 17, 18, and 23, all dated July 15, 2026.
The overall wage increase for the state-funded sector raised the minimum salary from 2,100 to 3,210 CUP, a 53% hike, with an estimated cost of 42.5 billion pesos for the state budget. This comes amid a 15.89% annual inflation rate in Cuba's formal market as of May 2026, according to the EFE agency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuba's Medical Salaries
What is the starting salary for a newly graduated doctor in Cuba?
A newly graduated doctor in Cuba earns a starting salary of 7,045 Cuban pesos (CUP) per month, which is approximately 13 to 14 US dollars at the current informal exchange rate.
How does the salary for Cuban doctors compare to the cost of living?
The salary for Cuban doctors is significantly below the cost of living. It is estimated that around 96,000 CUP per month is needed to cover basic needs, far exceeding the starting salary of 7,045 CUP.
What impact has the salary gap had on the Cuban healthcare system?
The disparity between salaries and living costs has led to a significant outflow of healthcare professionals, with over 30,000 doctors leaving the National Health System from 2021 to 2024, and many working abroad.