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The 277 professionals from the Cuban Medical Brigade in Jamaica returned to Cuba on Thursday, marking the end of nearly half a century of health cooperation between the two countries, following the Jamaican government's decision not to renew the bilateral agreement.
The doctors arrived at José Martí International Airport in Havana, where they were welcomed by Vice Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz and Minister of Public Health José Ángel Portal Miranda, among other officials.
A first group of 60 cooperators residing in the eastern provinces landed at the Antonio Maceo Grajales International Airport in Santiago de Cuba, where a welcome ceremony was also organized with political, government, and health authorities from the province.
Jamaica formally notified the end of the medical cooperation agreement to the Cuban embassy on March 4. The following day, the Jamaican Foreign Ministry, led by Kamina Johnson Smith, publicly announced that "the decision comes after both governments failed to agree on the terms and conditions of a new technical cooperation agreement."
The technical framework of the agreement had expired in February 2023, and for nearly three years both parties negotiated without reaching an understanding.
The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed out structural irregularities in the program: the salaries of doctors were paid in dollars directly to the Cuban government, not to the professionals themselves, and many of them did not have access to their passports.
These practices were deemed violations of local and international labor laws. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified, however, that "in the interest of maintaining the valuable service provided by the Cuban medical professionals present in the country, the Ministry of Health may contract them individually in accordance with local labor laws."
Cooperation between Cuba and Jamaica has been ongoing since 1976.
During that period, 4,700 Cuban professionals cared for over 8 million Jamaican patients and performed more than 25,000 surgeries, including 6,120 ophthalmological interventions as part of the Miracle Mission.
The brigade operated in public hospitals, rural centers, and specialized programs in ophthalmology, gynecology, and obstetrics throughout the Caribbean nation's geography.
Some of the returning volunteers described their experience with emotion. "The solidarity and affection of that people grew year after year, and the news that we were returning due to their government's decision to end the agreement was met with sadness and very deep feelings."
Jamaica is not the only Caribbean country that has recently modified its agreements with Cuba: Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines signed contracts with Cuban doctors in February, while Dominica confirmed that it will retain its 65 Cuban doctors and is negotiating a direct payment scheme.
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