Prof. Camelia Tigau is a senior researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In her research, she mostly focuses on international migration and diasporas. Prof. Tigau was one of the speakers at a webinar organized by the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism, which took place on the 4th of August 2020. She discussed the medical staff during the COVID-19 and Cuban doctors working in Mexico.
Lack of Medical Staff in Mexico
Prof. Tigau started her speech by mentioning an interesting fact regarding migrant workers in the United States (US). “As you know, medicine is one of the main occupations of skilled migrants in the US. There are about 10 000 licensed doctors of Mexican origin in the US”: Prof. Camelia Tigau. The high number of Mexican medical migrant workers in the US caused understaffing in Mexican hospitals. For this reason, in March 2020 Mexican and Cuban governments made an agreement in order to bring Cuban doctors and other medical workers into Mexico during the ongoing pandemic.
Cuban Medical Doctors as Modern Slaves in other Countries
However, as Prof. Tigau noted, the arrival of medical staff from Cuba faced many critiques. One is related to the conditions of Cuban medical staff in Mexico. Cuba is well known for sending its health workers to different countries during pandemics. By sending its medical staff to more than 70 countries, Cuba is able to increase its income. Havana keeps around 80% of what it charges another country for its doctors. Prof. Tigau pointed an interesting fact: “According to the sources of the United Nations, the working conditions of these Cuban doctors could be categorized as forced labour, a modern form of slavery”: Prof. Camelia Tigau.
Cuban Medical Workers as a Pillar of Socialism in Cuba
This year, Cuba has already sent its doctors to at least 23 countries to help fights the COVID-19 pandemic. The US government has attacked this program for its unfair conditions. However, Cuba insisted, that their army in white coats is one of a pillars of the revolution established by the late Fidel Castro.
Mexican Doctors did not Welcome their Cuban Colleagues
The second critique is associated with discrimination against migrant workers in Mexico. According to Prof. Tigau, Mexican doctors complained, that their Cuban colleagues get paid better, while not doing what they were hired for. For this critique, many criticized Mexican doctors for discriminating against their Cuban colleagues.
Cuban Doctors as Distraction from the COVID-19 Pandemic
However, in the end, Prof. Tigau expressed her opinion, that the Mexican government is using this topic to distract the public from the increasing number of infected people and high death numbers in Mexico.
Michal Tengeri, PhD Candidate in Asia-Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University Twitter: @Michal8810