A Cuban doctor named Yuli MJ stirred social media on Tuesday with a poignant Facebook post revealing her decision to stop practicing medicine. Her choice was not due to a lack of passion, but rather an ironic necessity—financial survival.
"I dedicated years to becoming a doctor in Cuba. I poured my heart, sleepless nights, and relentless effort into this sacred profession: saving lives," the young doctor wrote, donning a white coat with a medical caduceus emblem prominently displayed.
"I faced one of the toughest and most ironic decisions of my life: stepping away from medicine. (I still question it). Not because I ceased loving my vocation, but out of sheer necessity, seeking a better financial future for my family," she recounted.
Yuli MJ's message goes beyond her personal story, highlighting the systemic crisis that engulfs professionals across the island, regardless of their qualifications or dedication.
"The harshest lesson I've learned, which thousands of Cubans live today, is that in this country, nothing you do is ever enough," she expressed.
"Whether you're a doctor, a teacher, or venturing into any other field; it doesn't matter how many hours you work or how inventive you get each day. The crisis swallows up any effort," she added.
Her words resonate deeply, especially concerning the most vulnerable: "Seeing our children go to bed or school without a decent meal, witnessing parents' despair over what to put on the table the next day, it breaks your heart."
Yuli MJ's situation is far from unique. Cuban doctors are subsisting on a mere $16 a month, based on the average healthcare sector salary reported at the end of 2025, while a basic basket for two in Havana exceeds 41,000 pesos monthly.
Resolution 17/2026, effective since July, raised the base salary for newly graduated doctors to 7,045 Cuban pesos, roughly equivalent to just over ten dollars at the informal exchange rate—a nominal increase that remains insignificant against the real cost of living.
Other documented stories echo the same desperation. Dr. Roxangela San Martín lamented that her salary "isn't enough for even a pack of chicken," while her mother, with two specialties and 34 years of service, retired on a mere 3,000 pesos monthly pension.
In December 2025, a young doctor chose to work as a bartender in a café after leaving her medical career. Meanwhile, a doctor in Holguín works as a cashier in a private company because spending 5,000 pesos on transportation out of a 10,000 salary is unsustainable.
The overall statistics reflect the scale of the exodus: Cuba's doctor count dropped from 106,131 in 2021 to 75,364 in 2024, a loss of over 30,000 professionals in three years, according to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information.
In total, the healthcare system lost about 77,522 healthcare workers—doctors, nurses, technicians, and dentists—during that same period.
Even President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged in August the "magnitude of the healthcare disaster" affecting the island, where over 98,500 patients await surgery, and about 117,000 adults and 1,200 children with cancer lack proper treatment.
Yuli MJ concluded her post with a question encapsulating the exhaustion of an entire generation of Cuban professionals: "How much longer will the Cuban family's effort be in vain?"
Understanding the Healthcare Crisis in Cuba
Why did Yuli MJ decide to stop practicing medicine?
Yuli MJ made the difficult decision to leave medicine due to economic necessity. Despite her passion for the profession, financial pressures forced her hand.
How much do Cuban doctors earn on average?
Cuban doctors earn an average of $16 a month, making it extremely challenging to cover basic living expenses.
What is the impact of the healthcare crisis on Cuban professionals?
The healthcare crisis has led to a significant exodus of medical professionals, with many leaving for better opportunities due to insufficient salaries and poor working conditions.