The Communist regime of Cuba said on Wednesday (13) that will continue to send doctors abroad, despite the new visa restrictions imposed by the United States against Cuban authorities and countries participating in the program, such as Brazil.
The announcement was made by Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, who, on social networks, classified Washington’s measure as “imposition” and “aggression,” accusing President Donald Trump’s government to adopt a “new foreign policy doctrine” aimed at pressure against Havana. According to him, the medical missions – one of the island’s main sources of revenue – is “legitimate cooperation programs”.
The new sanctions were announced by the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who also revoked visas from Brazilian authorities, such as Mozart Julio Tabosa Sales, secretary of specialized health care, and Alberto Kleiman, former coordinator of COP30. Rubio accused these managers of intermediating, through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), payments to the Cuban regime during the Mais Médicos program, surrounding sanctions and retaining substantial part of the salary due to professionals.
Washington classifies the Cuban model as forced labor and accuses Havana of renting doctors at high prices and then with most income, depriving the Cuban population of essential care.
“Countries must pay doctors directly, not to the regime’s slaves,” Rubio said, promising new actions to end the practice.
Since February, the Trump government had already sanctioned employees from Cuba and Central American countries linked to the scheme. Analysts point out that professional services, led by medical missions, compose, along with tourism and remittances from abroad, the tripod of the Cuban regime.
