More On The Termination Of The Cuban Medical Programme In Jamaica

Press Release From The Ministry of Health, March 7, 2026

Minister Kamila Johnson-Smith

Jamaica has always valued the contribution of the Cuban medical professionals who have served our people with dedication, skill, and compassion. Cuban nurses, doctors and technicians from the neighbouring island are treated by the Government of Jamaica with respect, care, and appreciation. 

It is widely known that the United States government has publicly raised concerns about the operation of the medical programme globally, including a denial of access to travel documents, restricted freedom of movement and salary payment matters.  The Government considered it necessary to review the existing arrangements to ensure compliance with domestic and international legal obligations.  Other countries in the region have done the same.   

Following the review, it was confirmed that were no issues with treatment on the job, accommodation, leave entitlements or freedom of moment in Jamaica.  It however revealed two issues which required immediate attention. 

Among the concerns identified was the fact that Cuban personnel were not in possession of their own passports. Once that was brought to the Government’s attention, immediate steps were taken to correct it.  The issue was raised with Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency as well as the Cuban authorities locally to ensure that all personnel were allowed to hold their passports.   

More fundamentally, the Government also discovered that salary payments for Cuban medical personnel, while calculated at the same level as their Jamaican counterparts, were being made by Jamaica to the Cuban authorities in US dollars. The only payments made directly by the Government of Jamaica to the personnel themselves, were overtime payments. Even more concerning, there was no contractual provision specifying what share of those salary payments was to be paid to the workers. That arrangement raised serious concerns under Jamaican labour and tax laws as well as under international labour conventions. 

The Government chose the path of respectful engagement and quiet diplomacy. 

Beginning in July of last year, Jamaica commenced formal discussions with the Cuban authorities aimed at restructuring the arrangement to ensure compliance with Jamaican law and international conventions, which require that workers be paid directly and have control of their travel documents.  

Following Cabinet discussions, a formal proposal was made in October, and this was followed up by a further formal communication in December. These efforts were reinforced by direct enquiries to both former and current Cuban Ambassadors, as well as informal engagements at the Ministerial level. 

For absolute clarity, the Government of Jamaica proposed continuation of the programme with adjustments. It remains disappointed that despite these repeated efforts, no substantive response was ever received whether verbally or in writing from Cuba.  

At the same time, Jamaica became aware that other Caribbean countries had arrangements under which Cuban medical personnel were paid directly. That made it even clearer that a lawful and transparent alternative was possible. 

Unfortunately, the continued lack of response had the practical effect of preserving an arrangement that Jamaica could not justify. Given our legal obligations, our duty to ensure fairness to workers in Jamaica, and the need for compliance with our own laws and international conventions, the Government ultimately concluded that continuation on the existing terms was untenable. 

Jamaica’s position is therefore clear: we value the contribution of Cuban medical personnel, we respect the Cuban people, and we remain committed to cooperation. However, no programme operating in Jamaica can continue on terms that are inconsistent with Jamaican law and international conventions. 

The Government of Jamaica is disappointed that the Cuban government has chosen to withdraw their medical personnel when all that is required is for them to agree to terms which they have already accepted with other Caribbean countries. 

#MinistryOfHealthAnd Wellness

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