José Ángel Portal Miranda, Cuba's Minister of Public Health, has acknowledged that for years, the passports of Cuban doctors on international missions were held by brigade leaders as a precautionary measure to prevent them from being misplaced. These comments were made during his appearance on the "Desde la Presidencia" program, hosted by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and streamed on YouTube. The minister aimed to counter international criticisms regarding the coercive nature of these so-called "medical missions."
"It's true that at one point, the passports of our collaborators were kept by the brigade chiefs. This was because it was a large-scale operation, with many young collaborators involved, and passports were getting lost. This is an issue we have gradually resolved over time," Portal stated.
Portal assured that the situation has now been addressed in the few countries where it persisted. According to the minister, collaborators currently have their documentation and can move freely within the nations where they are stationed: "It's easy to verify that in the countries, collaborators have their documentation," he emphasized.
The minister denied claims that healthcare workers are compelled to join these missions or face repercussions if they refuse. "There isn't a single instance where someone can say they faced retaliation for not being willing to fulfill a mission," Portal insisted.
He defended that participation in these missions is voluntary, involving a selection process, preparation, and contract signing, which outlines the specific conditions of the country of assignment. "Our collaborators, once selected, come to the central cooperation unit, they are informed about the country they will be going to, the characteristics of the country are explained, and a contract is signed," he explained.
Portal mentioned that if the host country fails to meet the agreed conditions, the collaborator is either replaced or returned: "We indeed have a responsibility for the collaborators who are deployed," he affirmed.
Additionally, Portal justified the economic aspect of the missions, asserting that the stipends received by doctors abroad help them meet material needs that are otherwise unmet in Cuba. "Although they address a range of material issues that perhaps salaries cannot resolve in Cuba, it also aids families," he noted, while admitting that the salaries earned by doctors on the island scarcely cover a week's expenses.
As a concluding argument, Portal Miranda tried to dismiss the criticisms by citing numbers: "It cannot be that 605,000 times our collaborators have been sent out, they are deceived. There are 165 nations and more than 600,000 people," he declared. He added that some have completed missions eight to ten times, though he omitted mentioning the oppressive system under which they operate, as highlighted by international organizations.
Elsewhere in the program, the minister justified movement restrictions imposed on doctors in some contexts, referencing the case of Cuban doctors kidnapped in Kenya. "We don't want a repeat of Kenya. It was very unfortunate... due to not having all the elements of that situation. We feel responsible when such things happen," he expressed, acknowledging the stringent surveillance imposed on collaborators.
The so-called "medical missions" have been harshly criticized by international organizations and governments, which view them as a form of forced labor. Multiple testimonies have reported passport retention, movement restrictions, and threats of reprisal for those who abandon the missions or refuse participation.
A doctor consulted by CiberCuba reported that just a few years ago, during the global Covid pandemic, he was on a mission in Venezuela. "My passport wasn't taken, but it had a stamp indicating it was only valid for travel between Cuba and Venezuela," he emphasized.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the international medical missions organized by the Cuban regime as an "atrocious practice" due to their operation under exploitative labor conditions. However, he announced plans to assess cases individually in the Caribbean, where several countries rely on these services, acknowledging that some places offer Cuban specialists "better labor standards."
A few days ago, Cuban-American Congressman Carlos A. Giménez, representing Florida's 28th district, sent a letter to Rubio, endorsing visa restrictions for foreign leaders associated with the exploitation of the island's healthcare specialists and calling for severe economic sanctions against countries that collaborate with the Havana regime through these so-called medical missions.
Key Questions about Cuban Medical Missions
Why were Cuban doctors' passports held abroad?
Cuban brigade leaders retained the passports of doctors on international missions to prevent them from being misplaced, according to the Cuban Health Minister.
Are Cuban healthcare workers forced to join international missions?
The Cuban Health Minister denied that healthcare workers are compelled to participate in these missions, stating that engagement is voluntary and involves a contractual agreement.
What economic benefits do Cuban doctors gain from international missions?
Doctors receive stipends abroad that help meet material needs not covered by their salaries in Cuba, according to the Cuban Health Minister.