Italy, of the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, approved a measure for Cuban doctors to work in southern Italy, but with one condition: that they receive their full salary.
In Cuba, the government of Miguel Díaz Canel committed, exceptionally, not to touch doctors' salaries.
Cuban authorities allocate 70% of the income of doctors on missions abroad to finance the communist regime on the island.
In Italy, they will receive €3.500 (approximately R$19,4) per month plus an allowance of €1.200 for housing and food expenses. The contract duration of the 497 doctors is approximately 12 months.
A first group of 51 Cuban doctors has already arrived in Calabria, according to EuroNews, where the healthcare system is particularly fragile and has been under intervention for 13 years, due to its debt, currently close to €1 billion – around R$5,5 billion.
A Calabria, with 2 million inhabitants, is the largest “medical desert” in Italy. There is a shortage of 2.500 doctors, especially specialists, to serve a region where 23% of the population is over 65 years old.
However, public competitions do not attract candidates, hospitals are losing their employees due to less attractive salaries than those offered by private establishments.
Furthermore, public structures lack equipment. Cuban doctors, recognized worldwide for their skills, must therefore facilitate the restructuring of Calabria's healthcare system.
