A doctor in his 90s from Placetas, Villa Clara, touched the hearts of countless Cubans this past weekend. His story of living in dire circumstances, shared on Facebook, sparked a wave of solidarity that quickly transformed into tangible support.
"My pension doesn't cover anything, absolutely nothing, because it's just 3,000 pesos. I receive a pension of 3,000," the elderly doctor explained in a video shared on Facebook by Rubén Carrillo. Dr. Garcel described his struggles: he lives alone, with his only sibling—who is over 70 years old—residing in Santiago de Cuba, unable to offer much help.
The doctor also highlighted the severe power outages he's endured: "We've experienced a three-day blackout. It's a serious, very serious issue."
His circumstances are even more concerning when considering that the official minimum pension in Cuba was set at 4,000 pesos monthly as of September 2025. By 2026, this amount equates to just seven to eight dollars on the informal exchange market, while basic food necessities are estimated to cost between 12,000 and 30,000 pesos per person each month.
Following the video's release, Carrillo noted that a generous individual reached out to the doctor, who was on the Central Highway heading towards Cabaiguán. This person provided him with a pizza, a soda, and an unspecified amount of financial aid. Dr. Garcel expressed his gratitude, saying the assistance arrived "at the perfect time, because I had nothing to eat."
"Thank you so much, thank you to all my friends and those who help me," the elderly doctor expressed in a subsequent video.
Rubén Carrillo stated, "Dr. Garcel spent his life caring for others. Now he deserves to be cared for in return."
In Cuba, over 1.7 million retirees are grappling with a significant loss of purchasing power. A survey by the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba, involving 506 retirees across five provinces, revealed that 99% of respondents claim their pensions are insufficient for food, housing, or medication.
The institutional neglect of the elderly has been documented in numerous municipalities across the country. Recently, similar cases in Camagüey, Holguín, and Havana followed a familiar pattern: a social media complaint triggers the only aid that materializes, which comes from fellow citizens.
Understanding the Challenges Faced by Cuban Retirees
What is the current minimum pension in Cuba?
As of September 2025, the official minimum pension in Cuba is set at 4,000 pesos per month.
How does the pension value compare to the cost of living in Cuba?
The current pension value is significantly lower than the estimated cost of basic food necessities, which ranges from 12,000 to 30,000 pesos per person each month.
How are retirees in Cuba coping with the loss of purchasing power?
Many retirees are struggling as their pensions do not cover essential needs such as food, housing, or medication, forcing them to rely on the support of fellow citizens.