The Cuban government announced on Friday the withdrawal of its medical brigade from Jamaica following the latter's decision to terminate a longstanding health cooperation agreement. Havana attributed this move to pressures from the United States.
In an official statement, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) reported that on March 4, the Jamaican government informed the Cuban embassy of its unilateral decision to end the decades-old health agreement.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry accused Jamaica of succumbing to "pressures from the United States government," which it claimed shows little concern for the Caribbean's healthcare needs.
According to the statement, at the time the agreement was canceled, the brigade consisted of 277 healthcare professionals. The ministry also emphasized the significant impact Cuban medical cooperation has had on Jamaica's healthcare system over the past thirty years.
The medical collaboration between Cuba and Jamaica, which began in 1976, allowed Cuban doctors, nurses, and specialists to fill gaps in Jamaica’s public health system for nearly five decades.
Minrex disclosed that more than 4,700 Cuban collaborators have worked in Jamaica over the last 30 years. During that period, these healthcare professionals attended to over 8,176,000 patients, performed 74,302 surgeries, and assisted in 7,170 births.
The statement further highlighted that over 90,000 lives were saved thanks to the efforts of Cuban professionals on the island. The government also noted the brigade's involvement in the "Operation Miracle" program, which has been in Jamaica since 2010, helping nearly 25,000 people regain or improve their vision.
Additionally, Cuban doctors contributed to disease control programs, such as those targeting malaria, and played a crucial role in the healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement also noted the health professionals' dedication during the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, with some working over 72 consecutive hours to provide medical care and aid in hospital recovery efforts.
Despite the Jamaican government's decision, Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with the Caribbean nation's people and expressed its willingness to provide medical assistance whenever needed.
In recent months, several countries have either canceled or re-evaluated their agreements with Cuba for medical brigades, amid increasing diplomatic pressure from the United States against these healthcare cooperation programs.
This Thursday, 172 Cuban healthcare professionals returned from Honduras after the Central American country decided to end the agreement that had been in place since 2024, allowing Cuban doctors to work there. During their tenure, they conducted more than 30 million consultations and nearly 900,000 surgeries, according to state media reports.
In February, Guatemala also announced the termination of a Cuban doctors program, while the Bahamas mentioned it is considering canceling contracts with Cuban healthcare workers following discussions with the U.S. government.
Antigua and Barbuda recently opted to hire 120 nurses from Ghana to bolster their health system after ending cooperation with Cuban medical brigades. Similarly, Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have terminated their healthcare contracts with the largest of the Antilles.
Washington has ramped up its diplomatic campaign against these programs, arguing they constitute labor exploitation schemes that mask forced labor and human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State claims that the Cuban government withholds a significant portion of the salaries paid by countries hiring these professionals.
Various reports place the export of professional services, particularly in healthcare, among Cuba's top sources of foreign currency revenue, with estimated figures ranging from $6 billion to $8 billion annually in recent years.
Despite these criticisms and cancellations, Havana continues to defend its international medical missions and maintains health cooperation agreements with numerous countries across Latin America, Africa, and other regions.
Implications of U.S. Pressure on Cuban Medical Missions
Why did Jamaica end its health cooperation agreement with Cuba?
Jamaica decided to terminate its health cooperation agreement with Cuba, which the Cuban government attributes to pressure from the United States.
What has been the impact of Cuban medical cooperation in Jamaica?
Cuban medical cooperation has significantly contributed to Jamaica's healthcare system, with over 4,700 Cuban professionals working there over the past 30 years, attending to millions of patients and participating in vital healthcare programs.
How has the U.S. responded to Cuba's medical missions?
The United States has increased diplomatic efforts against Cuba's medical missions, alleging they involve labor exploitation and human trafficking, and claiming the Cuban government retains part of the salaries paid to these professionals.