Italian Bank Blocks Cuban Medical Mission Funds

What Happened

The bank account used in Italy by Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos (CSMC), a state entity managing funds for Cuban medical missions, has been blocked since late July. This action has halted the normal flow of payments for Cuban doctors working in Italy.

Testimonies from professionals within the mission indicate that several transfers have been rejected, and previously sent funds are now frozen. The specific bank involved is BPER.

Where and When

The situation is occurring in Italy, impacting Cuban medical professionals stationed there. The account blockage began at the end of July 2026.

This affects over 200 Cuban professionals currently part of the medical mission.

Why It Matters

This blockage directly disrupts the financial mechanism through which the Cuban government collects a significant portion of the earnings from its doctors abroad. It impacts the revenue stream for the state and the contractual agreements between the professionals and the Cuban state.

The CSMC typically retains a substantial percentage of the doctors' salaries, estimated between 54% and 72%, depending on base pay and overtime hours.

What Parties Say

There is no official public statement from the Cuban government or the Italian bank explaining the reasons, scope, or duration of this measure. Doctors have reportedly been instructed to hold onto the funds they would normally transfer to CSMC.

Sources suggest that transferring these funds to Cuba during vacation periods might be considered as an alternative.

What Comes Next

The immediate consequence is that doctors are keeping their salaries in personal accounts while awaiting resolution. The total monthly sum potentially affected is estimated to be close to half a million euros.

It is noted that this blockage occurred weeks after the U.S. OFAC sanctioned CSMC on July 23, 2026, though a direct link to the bank's decision has not been established.