During an appearance on the national television, ministers and officials from the ministries of Public Health, Education, and Finance and Prices, presented the Government’s measures to increasing income and improving care for these personnel.

According to the vice minister of the Ministry of Finance and Prices Maritza Cruz, 46 percent of the total expenditure of the budget is concentrated in these two large social areas. 63 percent of this spending will be allocated to these sectors as well as assistance, social security, culture and sports, Cruz explained, who also pointed out that health and education have always been paramount in the Cuban budget, since “the Public healthcare receives 60 billion pesos, and education receives 55 billion.”

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Health Luís Fernando Navarro reported that the ministry groups more than 409 thousand workers, of which 279,429 are professionals, including university students, higher and middle level technicians, in addition to 130 thousand administrative, operator and service workers.

Navarro focused his intervention on four measures that directly affect workers’ income, which will be applied as of January 1st, 2024. He explained that the first measure establishes the additional payment monthly to doctors for years, stomatologists, nursing staff, psychologists, technologists, graduates and technicians who fulfill specific functions particularly in health activity. Another 18 measures will gradually come into force, he stated.

He recognized that there is an important group of healthcare professionals with over 30 years of service who are still active and “it is fair that they be recognized for the effort they have made almost their entire lives after graduating.”

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