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Jamaica ends 50-year medical cooperation programme with Cuba
The government of Jamaica has officially ended a medical cooperation programme with Cuba that had been in place for more than five decades, bringing a significant chapter of Caribbean health collaboration to a close.
The decision was announced by Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, confirming that the long-running arrangement that allowed Cuban doctors and medical specialists to work in Jamaica’s public health system will not be renewed. The programme had been a cornerstone of Jamaica’s healthcare system for nearly 50 years, helping to fill critical shortages of doctors, nurses and specialists across the island.
Why the agreement ended
According to Jamaican officials, the programme ended after the two governments were unable to reach agreement on the terms of a new technical cooperation arrangement following the expiration of the previous deal in February 2023.
Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said the government decided to discontinue the deployment of Cuban medical professionals under the existing arrangement after negotiations failed to produce a new agreement.
Despite the termination of the programme, Jamaican authorities said that Cuban doctors currently working on the island will be allowed to complete their contracts, and the government may seek to employ some of them individually under Jamaican labour laws.
A major role in Jamaica’s health system
For decades, Cuba has sent hundreds of healthcare professionals to Jamaica to support hospitals and clinics, particularly in rural areas where staffing shortages have been severe.
At one point, more than 300 Cuban doctors, nurses and technicians were working across Jamaica’s public health facilities, providing vital services ranging from primary care to specialist treatment.
The partnership dates back to the 1970s and became one of the longest-standing examples of Cuba’s international medical missions, which have deployed healthcare workers to dozens of countries around the world.
Political tensions surrounding the programme
The end of the agreement also comes amid growing international scrutiny of Cuba’s overseas medical missions.
The United States has repeatedly criticised the programmes, alleging that they involve forced labour and human trafficking. Officials in Washington have pressured countries hosting Cuban doctors to reconsider the arrangements.
However, Jamaica’s government has denied that external pressure influenced its decision, insisting that the move was based purely on unresolved contractual issues with Cuba.
Cuban officials, meanwhile, have suggested that political pressure played a role and have announced that hundreds of Cuban medical workers will be withdrawn from the island following the termination of the programme.
What happens next
Health experts warn that the end of the partnership could leave significant gaps in Jamaica’s healthcare system, particularly in rural communities that have long relied on Cuban medical staff.
The Jamaican government says it will now focus on strengthening its domestic workforce and exploring other international partnerships to ensure continuity of healthcare services.
For many Caribbean observers, the decision marks the end of one of the region’s most enduring health partnerships — a collaboration that shaped Jamaica’s public health system for half a century.
Attached is a news article regarding Jamaica ends a 50 year medical corporation with Cuba
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20260305/jamaica-end-50-year-old-medical-programme-cuba
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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