Rachely Carmenates Sánchez, a Cuban doctor who has shared the harsh realities of life on the island for months, announced in an Instagram video that she has left Cuba for Brazil. She described this move as "the most difficult and painful decision" of her life.
"I'm leaving Cuba, or rather, I've already left Cuba, because by the time you see this video, I'll be in the place I've chosen, though I never wanted it to be my home," Rachely says at the beginning of the video she posted on Friday, accompanied by a Brazilian flag in the description.
Rachely emphasized that her departure was not a free choice: "I didn't leave Cuba because I wanted to emigrate; I left because my country has taken too many opportunities from me and forced me to seek elsewhere what I should be able to build right there."
She highlighted three specific reasons for emigrating while pregnant: "I left so my baby could be born in a free country, so my work would allow me to live with dignity, and to give my family a future that was impossible there."
The video is filled with the pain of family separation. "With my heart shattered, and feeling guilty for having to separate my husband from our daughter even before she was born," she admitted with a broken voice.
Addressing the regime directly, Rachely did not hold back: "To the Cuban regime, I want to say that I deeply love Cuba, but I hold its government responsible for forcing me to leave everything I love behind. Loving my country should not mean giving up my dreams, my freedom, or my future."
She also expressed concern for her daughter's future: "It hurts that my daughter must begin her story away from the land where her mother was born. It hurts that so many families have to separate and that leaving has become the only hope for all Cubans."
The young doctor uses an image that encapsulates the paradox faced by those who emigrate unwillingly: "My suitcase was incredibly heavy, not because of what it contained, but because of what I left behind."
Rachely concluded her message with a promise filled with hope and nostalgia: "I will return, and I hope to find a Cuba where no one has to leave their home to live with dignity, where families do not have to separate, and where our children can dream without limits. Because I never wanted to leave. Like so many other Cubans, I was forced to say goodbye to my home."
The young doctor, who scored 100 points on her state medical exam and worked as a pediatric intensive care resident in Havana, revealed in October that she no longer practiced because her salary was insufficient to live on. Months earlier, she shared her salary details: 10,250 Cuban pesos (about 19 USD at the time), which barely covered basic food, leaving nothing for transportation, hygiene, or Internet.
Her story is part of a massive exodus of Cuban doctors that has drained the island's healthcare system. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), Cuba went from having 106,131 doctors in 2021 to just 75,364 in 2024, losing over 30,000 healthcare professionals in just three years.
Low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of resources for patient care have driven many professionals to other sectors or abroad.
Brazil has emerged as a major destination for Cuban migrants. In 2025, it received nearly 42,000 asylum applications from Cubans, and between January and April of 2026, another 13,414 Cubans sought protection there, according to Brazilian government data.
Impacts of the Cuban Medical Exodus
Why did Rachely Carmenates Sánchez leave Cuba?
Rachely left Cuba to ensure her baby could be born in a free country, to live with dignity through her work, and to secure a future for her family that was unattainable in Cuba.
What is the current state of Cuba's healthcare workforce?
Cuba has experienced a significant reduction in its medical workforce, dropping from 106,131 doctors in 2021 to 75,364 in 2024, indicating a loss of over 30,000 professionals due to emigration.
What factors have contributed to the exodus of Cuban doctors?
The exodus is driven by low salaries, poor working conditions, and a scarcity of resources necessary for patient care, pushing many to seek opportunities abroad.