MIAMI, United States. – The Madrid College of Physicians (ICOMEM) temporarily eliminated the requirement for a certificate of non-disqualification so that Cuban and Venezuelan doctors can register and work in the region, according to the report this Friday from the EFE agency.
The measure seeks to address the lack of health personnel in Spain, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors; and makes it easier for Cuban and Venezuelan professionals to practice their profession without this documentary obstacle.
Manuel Martínez-Sellés, president of ICOMEM, confirmed to EFE that this measure will be in force for a provisional period of nine months. During this time, doctors may replace the certificate with an affidavit or a criminal record certificate. “We are working to unify the criteria throughout the country,” the source added.
The main problem is that countries like Cuba do not issue the certificate of non-disqualification, which makes it difficult for doctors from the Island to become registered in Spain. This situation was addressed in a meeting between ICOMEM and representatives of the Association of Cuban Doctors, who thanked the measure that will benefit more than 2,000 professionals. “It is a great step forward,” said to Cuban Diary Dr. Julio Roque González, member of the Cuban Homologations Movement in Spain.
However, the measure only offers a temporary solution. The delay in the degree recognition processes continues to be the biggest challenge for Cuban doctors in Spain. Professionals must wait long periods for their degrees to be validated by the Ministry of Universities, which has led to several protests. On September 25, more than 150 doctors they manifested in front of the Congress of Deputies in Madrid demanding the speeding up of this process.
One of the issues that most concerns is the specific delay in the homologation of Cuban and Venezuelan medical degrees compared to other countries. Pedro Navarro, spokesperson for the Popular Party in the Congress of Deputies, denounced the existence of diplomatic pressures that could be slowing down these procedures. “An Argentinian takes half the time of a Venezuelan or a Cuban to homologate their degrees,” he commented to Cuban Diary. Although he did not present direct evidence, Navarro said the results show a clear trend.
For her part, Elvira Velasco, second vice president of the Congressional Health Commission, pointed out that the situation is “unsustainable” and that several parliamentary initiatives have been presented to address this problem. “We must provide solutions for these approvals,” he indicated.
The number of Cubans residing in Spain has reached a historical maximum of almost 200,000, according to the latest data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) of the Iberian country corresponding to January 1, 2023. From then to date that number must have increased.
