US pressure cancels Cuban doctor programmes in a dozen countries
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 6
US pressure cancels Cuban doctor programmes in a dozen countries
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 6
The move is hitting Latin America and the Caribbean, where Cuban medics have long staffed remote and poor communities that local doctors often avoid.
Washington says the schemes amount to forced labour because Havana keeps part of salaries, but experts cited in the report say the policy also aims to cut Cuban state revenue.
The cancellations risk worsening healthcare shortages with no replacement plan, after US aid retrenchment left vulnerable populations facing deeper gaps in medical access.
With the US pressuring nations to end Cuban medical missions, what realistic alternatives exist for millions left without basic healthcare?
How will the abrupt removal of Cuban doctors and the fuel blockade reshape healthcare and stability in vulnerable Latin American and Caribbean countries?
Are the humanitarian costs of intensified US sanctions on Cuba justified by concerns over forced labor, or are broader geopolitical aims at play?
How US "Maximum Pressure" Campaign Ended Cuban Medical Cooperation, Leaving Millions Without Care
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, under intense US diplomatic and economic pressure, several Caribbean and Central American countries terminated their medical cooperation agreements with Cuba, disrupting healthcare services in vulnerable rural areas already affected by a regional brain drain. These terminations cut off a vital source of foreign revenue for Cuba, worsening its economic crisis amid a US embargo and energy blockade that triggered severe electricity shortages. Efforts to replace Cuban medical personnel face high costs and logistical challenges, while US allegations of forced labor in Cuban missions remain disputed. Meanwhile, China and Russia have increased support to Cuba, and some nations like Mexico resist US pressure, highlighting a complex geopolitical struggle impacting regional healthcare and alliances.