Cuba's Medical Brigades: Solidarity, Income, and Controversy
Cuba operates a program that sends tens of thousands of doctors and other medical professionals abroad, referred to as "medical brigades." Cuba states these missions demonstrate international solidarity and serve as a significant source of foreign income for the island nation. However, the program has drawn criticism.
U.S. Stance and Allegations of Forced Labor
The U.S. State Department has long criticized this system, labeling it "forced labor" and "human trafficking." The department alleges that participants are coerced and underpaid by the Cuban government.
The U.S. State Department has long criticized this system, labeling it "forced labor" and "human trafficking."
The Trump administration increased pressure on countries to withdraw from these arrangements with Cuba. Consequently, several nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Paraguay, and Honduras, are phasing out, reevaluating payment models, or canceling their programs.
Program Operations and Participant Experiences
Originating over 60 years ago, the program typically provides medical aid to impoverished communities and rural, underserved areas, often in lower-resource countries. Cuban teams have also deployed to high-income countries, such as Italy during the early years of the COVID crisis.
In 2024, over 20,000 Cuban medical personnel were reportedly serving in more than 50 countries. Under the agreements, the Cuban government often receives a substantial payment for each medical practitioner, while the doctors themselves receive a small percentage of that money. A former doctor stated that her payment in Cuba was about $20 monthly, which increased roughly fourfold when working abroad.
Dr. Leyani Perez Gonzalez, a former participant in a mission to Venezuela, described the experience as difficult due to living conditions and government surveillance. She stated that passports were removed to prevent escape.
During the George W. Bush presidency, the U.S. created the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, allowing Cuban medical professionals abroad to seek refuge in the U.S. This program ended under President Barack Obama.
Under President Trump, the U.S. returned to an adversarial approach. In August 2025, the Trump Administration moved to revoke visas and impose restrictions on government officials in Brazil, Grenada, and some African countries for collaborating with Cuba on these programs. The U.S. also passed a law allowing sanctions on countries that work with Cuban doctors.
Diverse Perspectives and Concerns
William LeoGrande, a professor at American University, characterized the U.S. position as "extreme" and its foreign policy as "coercive diplomacy." Stephanie Panichelli-Batalla, a professor at the University of Warwick, stated the program is "much more complex" than portrayed by the U.S.
"The program is much more complex than portrayed by the U.S.," said Professor Stephanie Panichelli-Batalla.
She acknowledged the program as Cuba's highest source of foreign funds and noted that doctors volunteer, earning significantly more than they would in Cuba, which allows them to improve their living standards upon return. She also stated that passport confiscation is a measure to prevent desertion, given Cuba's investment in training.
A special rapporteur for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights previously identified concerns regarding participants' working and living conditions and potential punishment for family members in Cuba if a relative abandoned their post abroad.
Concerns have been raised about the impact on vulnerable communities that may lose access to healthcare as countries withdraw from these programs. Some countries, such as the Bahamas, are exploring options to pay Cuban doctors directly.