Jamaica Ends Longstanding Medical Partnership with Cuba Amid Policy Shift

Jamaica has officially discontinued its long-running medical cooperation programme with Cuba, bringing to a close a partnership that supported the island’s public healthcare system for nearly five decades.

The announcement was made Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, which confirmed that negotiations to establish a new technical cooperation agreement were unsuccessful following the expiration of the previous arrangement in February 2023.

In a formal statement, the ministry said the Government of Jamaica has ended the existing framework that facilitated the deployment of Cuban medical professionals across the public health sector. Officials indicated that both governments were unable to reach consensus on updated terms to continue the programme.

Despite the policy shift, Cuban healthcare workers currently serving in Jamaica will be allowed to complete their assignments. Authorities stated that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will move to engage those professionals individually, in keeping with Jamaican labour regulations, to ensure continuity of care and stability for the workers involved.

Cuban doctors, nurses, and specialists have played a significant role in Jamaica’s healthcare delivery, staffing hospitals and clinics islandwide and contributing to key services, including specialist and eye care programmes. The government expressed appreciation for Cuba’s decades of support to the sector.

Last month, Health and Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton confirmed that nearly 300 Cuban medical personnel remain in the country under existing contracts, even though the formal memorandum of understanding had expired. He noted that discussions on a replacement agreement were ongoing but acknowledged that unresolved matters could affect the outcome. Specific details were not disclosed.

The decision comes amid heightened diplomatic sensitivity as Jamaica manages its international relationships, particularly with the United States, which has raised concerns about Cuba’s overseas medical missions. Washington has alleged that elements of the programme involve forced labour—claims that Caribbean governments have consistently rejected.

Regional partners are also adjusting their arrangements. The Government of Dominica recently signalled plans to adopt individual contracts for Cuban medical professionals while revising its longstanding cooperation structure with Havana.

The issue unfolds as Jamaican lawmakers prepare deliberations on the proposed $1.4 trillion national budget for the 2026–2027 financial year. Minister Tufton is scheduled to appear before Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee as part of the review process.

At a recent summit of the Caribbean Community, Prime Minister Andrew Holness commended Cuba’s contribution to regional healthcare while reaffirming Jamaica’s commitment to democratic governance, accountability, and an open-market economy. He emphasised that sustainable national development depends on political participation and economic freedom, while acknowledging the challenges faced by the Cuban people under U.S. sanctions.

During an official visit to Jamaica last year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that Washington does not oppose medical cooperation itself but objects to what it describes as exploitative labour practices within the system.

Jamaica’s medical cooperation programme with Cuba began in 1976 and had been maintained by successive administrations. Government officials previously affirmed that a review of the initiative started prior to increased international scrutiny and reiterated Jamaica’s commitment to ethical labour standards.

Beyond Jamaica, Cuba has provided scholarships and professional training for hundreds of Caribbean doctors and dentists since the 1970s, many of whom now serve communities throughout the region.