HAVANA, February 5 (Mijail Barzaga Lugo, UPECI) - A Cuban surgeon who recently returned from a humanitarian mission to Guatemala found the situation there to be different than he was lead to believe by the Cuban media.
The physician, who asked to remain anonymous, said that in spite of shortcomings, he found that Guatemalans enjoy a living standard much higher than that of Cubans.
"It is true that many don't have access to high technology, especially in matters of public health, but the purchasing power of the average salaried employee is several times higher than that of a professional in the island."
The physician said that salaries for unskilled laborers, skilled workers and technicians are 100, 200 and 300 dollars a month. In addition, a recent medical graduate earns more than 1,000 dollars a month.
The doctor added that if one were to compare the salary of a medical professional in Guatemala with that of one in Cuba, there would be a huge difference, because the Cuban makes about 20 dollars a month.
He also said that during his stay in Guatemala he had to depend on favors and gifts from patients, because the 250 dollars a month he received were not enough to cover his expenses, much less to save any money to bring back to Cuba.
The physician added that lately, in Cuba, he has to moonlight, using his car as a taxicab to make ends meet.
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