KINGSTON, March 5 - Jamaica’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that the government will terminate its medical cooperation program with Cuba, according to reporting by local outlet The Gleaner. The ministry’s statement, as cited by The Gleaner, indicated that negotiations between the two governments did not reach terms acceptable to both parties for a new agreement.
The Gleaner also reported that Cuban medical professionals currently deployed in Jamaica will be allowed to remain for the duration of their scheduled tenures. Jamaica’s Health and Wellness Minister, Christopher Tufton, previously stated that roughly 300 Cuban doctors and other medical personnel were working on the island, despite the previous cooperation agreement having expired in 2023.
The announcement positions Jamaica among several countries that have recently scaled back medical cooperation with Cuba. The statement noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has been applying pressure on countries to sever ties with Cuba’s communist-run government, a development that coincides with these withdrawals.
Regional actions cited in reporting include Guatemala’s February decision to end a program that sent Cuban doctors to that country, and The Bahamas’ statement in June that it was preparing to cancel contracts with Cuban healthcare professionals following discussions with the U.S. government.
Local reporting indicates the Jamaican foreign ministry framed the termination as the result of an inability to reach mutual agreement on new terms. The public details provided by the ministry and the media do not specify alternative arrangements for the island’s healthcare system beyond allowing current Cuban staff to complete their contracted time.
This development leaves questions about future staffing arrangements and international medical cooperation, but the available information is limited to the ministry statement and the media reports cited. No additional timelines or replacement strategies were provided in those reports.
Summary
Jamaica will end its medical cooperation program with Cuba after talks failed to produce an agreement on new terms, local media reported. About 300 Cuban medical professionals are on the island and will be permitted to finish their scheduled tenures. The decision comes amid similar rollbacks in the region and reported U.S. pressure on countries to reduce ties with Cuba.