By Roberto Morejón

Cuban health workers welcomed the announcement of provisions in effect as of January 1, 2024, regarding the increase of their monetary income.
 
In a markedly difficult context in the material order due to the persistence of the U.S. blockade, the impact of strategic tensions in the world, the consequences of the pandemic and internal errors, inflation in the largest of the Antilles increased to 30 percent in 2023.
 
Health personnel, essentially doctors, nurses and technicians, like other workers, have seen the purchasing power of their salaries decrease, which is why groups of them have moved to other sectors.
 
As the government is trying to preserve the gains in health, even though today there is a shortage of supplies and medicines, it has decided to meet part of the expectations of the indicated specialists.
 
The authorities explained that this is not a health salary reform, since the nation's budget has a marked deficit and with the application of rules that will gradually take effect in 2024, it is expected to attenuate this negative process.
 
But even in the midst of such adverse circumstances, Cuba will allocate 63 percent of total spending to health, education, assistance and social security, as well as culture and sports.
 
Thus, in order to ensure the quality of life of the population, doctors, stomatologists, nurses and technicians in the Caribbean nation will receive additional payments for years of service.
 
Likewise, the government decided to increase the hourly rate, or pesos per hour, for the above mentioned personnel, including in this case pharmacists, involved in the services of greater demand for assistance and which require greater responsibility.
 
In addition, physicians, nurses and technicians will be paid for maximum effort by increasing their daily workload, so as to ensure fair compensation when covering vacancies or absences.
 
The news about the increase in income should cover more than 279,000 health professionals, a group of them with more than 30 years of work, a trajectory that is now uniquely recognized.
 
The health executives informed about other determinations under study, but also about material guarantees, with a view to recognizing the abilities, skills and dedication of Cuban health personnel, always at the hand of a patient, 365 days a year.