The United States government criticized the Cuban regime on Friday, highlighting that it earns over $4.9 billion each year through its medical missions. This announcement follows a call to end human trafficking associated with these practices. The State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the situation, noting that while Cuban medical professionals are denied fair labor conditions, the regime profits significantly.
"The Cuban regime benefits from forced labor while ordinary Cubans suffer. Medical professionals should serve voluntarily, not under coercion," the government agency stated. It's reported that more than 26,000 Cuban medical workers are sent to 55 countries, facing exploitation and forced labor, while the regime collects substantial profits annually.
Despite these enormous earnings, Cubans are enduring a healthcare crisis that deprives them of essential medicines and medical supplies. On Thursday, the U.S. State Department had already cautioned governments engaged in agreements with Cuba for medical personnel from these missions, urging them to seek fair alternatives that respect the rights of professionals.
The U.S. government emphasized that "countries receiving Cuban medical missions must ensure fair labor practices." They also stressed that "transparency is crucial: agreements should be public, and Cuban medical workers must have the same rights as local medical professionals, not be treated as commodities by the Cuban regime."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in March, labeled the international medical missions organized by the Cuban regime as an "atrocious practice," citing the exploitative labor conditions. However, he mentioned evaluating each case individually in the Caribbean, acknowledging that several countries rely on these services and that some locations offer "better labor standards" for Cuban specialists.
In a strong stance against what the European Parliament considers "modern slavery" and "forced labor," an amendment was approved on Friday to the annual foreign policy report, marking a significant shift in the European Union's diplomatic approach toward Havana's regime. Amendment 311 denounces these medical missions, often promoted by the Cuban regime as acts of solidarity, as exploitative mechanisms that violate fundamental liberties of the participating healthcare professionals.
Presented by Spanish MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White, this amendment was incorporated into the document guiding the European Union's international actions, which also includes condemnations of the dictatorships in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Key Questions about Cuban Medical Missions
How much does the Cuban regime earn from medical missions annually?
The Cuban regime reportedly earns over $4.9 billion each year from its medical missions.
What concerns does the U.S. government have about these missions?
The U.S. government is concerned that Cuban medical professionals face exploitation and forced labor, and it urges fair labor practices and transparency in agreements.
What is the European Parliament's stance on Cuban medical missions?
The European Parliament considers these missions as forms of "modern slavery" and "forced labor," and has approved an amendment criticizing these practices as exploitative.