US Pressures Countries to End Cuban Medical Missions

Allegations of forced labor and exploitation prompt global crackdown on long-running program

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A somber, cinematic painting of a solitary Cuban medical worker sitting alone in a dimly lit hospital room, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and uncertainty about the future of the medical missions program.As the US government intensifies pressure on countries to end Cuban medical missions, the fate of this long-running program and its impact on global healthcare access remains uncertain.Today in Miami

For over 60 years, Cuba has deployed hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers on medical missions around the world, providing care to underserved communities. But the US government, under both the Trump and Biden administrations, has intensified pressure on countries to end these programs, claiming the workers are coerced and the missions amount to 'forced labor' that enriches the Cuban regime.

Why it matters

The US views the medical missions as a tool for the Cuban government to generate much-needed revenue and exert global influence, while depriving Cubans of essential healthcare at home. Critics say the programs exploit workers, but supporters argue the missions have saved countless lives in developing nations that would otherwise lack access to medical care.

The details

Under the medical missions program, Cuban doctors, nurses, and other staff are sent to countries in need, often for a fee paid to the Cuban government. The US has accused Cuba of restricting the workers' movements and keeping most of the payments, providing only a small portion to the medical professionals themselves. Several countries, including the Bahamas, Guatemala, and Paraguay, have begun phasing out the programs in response to US pressure.

  • In 2020, the human rights group Prisoners Defenders submitted a report to the UN and International Criminal Court alleging a 'pattern of slavery' in the medical missions.
  • In August 2026, the US State Department revoked visas and imposed restrictions on several Brazilian officials for 'complicity' in Cuba's 'labor export scheme'.
  • In January 2026, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia said the US government had pressured the country not to train its medical students in Cuba.

The players

Fidel Castro

The leader of the Cuban Revolution who established the medical missions program as a form of medical diplomacy.

Karem Montiel

A Cuban medical professional who defected to the US after participating in a medical mission in Eritrea, Africa.

Claudia Sheinbaum

The President of Mexico, who has said the country will maintain its agreement with Cuba to host Cuban medical workers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These labor export programs abuse the participants, enrich the corrupt Cuban regime and deprive everyday Cubans of essential medical care that they desperately need in their homeland.”

— Anna Kelly, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary

“That is nothing else but slavery, 21st century slavery. I was the one doing the work but [the Cuban government is] the one who gets the money. … They own all the Cuban doctors. They make the money, they get paid for those doctors being there, working, and they pay the doctors the bare minimum.”

— Karem Montiel, Former Cuban Medical Brigade Member

What’s next

The US is expected to continue pressuring countries to end their medical cooperation agreements with Cuba, potentially imposing sanctions on governments that maintain the programs. The fate of the medical missions remains uncertain as the geopolitical dispute between the US and Cuba intensifies.

The takeaway

The Cuban medical missions program has long been a point of contention between the US and Cuba, with the former accusing the latter of exploiting healthcare workers for financial and political gain. As the US ramps up efforts to dismantle the program globally, the humanitarian impact on underserved populations in developing nations remains a key concern.