Jamaica-Cuba medical partnership ends after nearly five decades amid reported contractual disagreements

The medical cooperation program between Jamaica and Cuba, which has spanned nearly five decades, has officially come to an end as of March 4, 2026.

After failing to reach a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cuba, the Jamaican government announced the termination.

The breakdown appears to stem from disagreements over contractual and legal arrangements, with the Jamaican authorities citing the need to ensure compliance with national and international laws. The decision marks the conclusion of a long-standing health partnership that has significantly contributed to Jamaica’s healthcare system over the years.

In response to the termination, Cuba issued a statement expressing deep regret over the move and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Jamaican people.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry described the decision as unfortunate and attributed it to external pressures, specifically pointing to influence from the United States.

Though it confirmed the decision on the part of Cuba to allow the return of its medical teams from Jamaica, Cuba’s foreign ministry’s statement emphasized that the termination was a unilateral action by the Jamaican government, noting, “Cuba regrets the decision of the Government of Jamaica to cease medical cooperation, yielding to pressure from the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba reports that, on March 4, the foreign ministry of Jamaica communicated to our embassy in that country, the unilateral decision of its Government to terminate the health cooperation agreement that has linked both nations for decades.”

Jamaica’s government clarified its position through a detailed statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. In  the statement, the Jamaican authorities acknowledged the vital role played by Cuban nurses, doctors, and technicians, who have worked with dedication and compassion.

However, they also claim that concerns about legal compliance and workers’ rights prompted the review of the arrangement.

The response explained that, during the review, the Jamaican government discovered issues related to the handling of salaries and passports of Cuban personnel. Specifically, the salaries, although equal to Jamaican counterparts, were paid to the Cuban authorities in U.S. dollars rather than directly to the workers, raising legal and labor concerns under Jamaican law.

Additionally, it was found that the Cuban medical staff did not possess their own passports, which was promptly addressed once identified.

Following this discovery, the statement asserts that Jamaica sought to rectify the issues through respectful dialogue and diplomatic channels.

Beginning in July of last year, the Jamaican government engaged in formal discussions with Cuban authorities to restructure the agreement, aiming to align it with Jamaican legal standards and international conventions.

These efforts included proposals for direct salary payments to workers and ensuring that personnel could hold their own passports—measures that Jamaican authorities discovered other Caribbean nations with similar arrangements had implemented successfully.

Despite these ongoing efforts, Jamaica reported that it received no substantive response from Cuba to these proposals, neither verbally nor in writing.

“Following Cabinet discussions, a formal proposal was made in October, and this was followed up by a further formal communication in December. These efforts were reinforced by direct enquiries to both former and current Cuban Ambassadors, as well as informal engagements at the Ministerial level,” read the statement.

 “Unfortunately, the continued lack of response had the practical effect of preserving an arrangement that Jamaica could not justify,” it continued.

In explaining the decision, the statement specified that “no programme operating in Jamaica can continue on terms that are inconsistent with Jamaican law and international conventions.”

On the part of the Cuban leadership, the decades-long collaboration was “disregarded” as a result of external pressures.

Namely, they argue that the U.S. is behind the move, which could arguably have a wide-reaching impact on the Jamaican health care system.

The U.S., stated the Cuban authorities, “is not concerned about the health needs of the Caribbean brothers”.

The Jamaica Gleaner reports that according to the Cuban Ministry, “over the past 49 years, more than 8,176,000 patients have been treated; 74,302 surgical procedures performed; 7,170 births attended to and more than 90,000 lives saved.”

Additionally, since 2010, the eyesight of nearly 25,000 Jamaican nationals has been improved or restored under the umbrella of Cuba’s Operation Miracle programme.

However, this statement released by Dr. Andrew Holness’ administration seems to counter the notion that Cuba received the axe unduly as a result of outside influence, insisting, “For absolute clarity, the Government of Jamaica proposed continuation of the programme with adjustments.”

***

Full statement by the Jamaican government below:

Jamaica has always valued the contribution of the Cuban medical professionals who have served our people with dedication, skill and compassion. Cuban nurses, doctors and technicians from the neighbouring island are treated by the Government of Jamaica with respect, care and appreciation.

It is widely known that the United States Government has publicly raised concerns about the operation of the medical programme globally, including a denial of access to travel documents, restricted freedom of movement and salary payment matters. Thc Government considered it necessary to review the existing arrangements to ensure compliance with domestic and international legal obligations. Other countries in the region have done the same.

Following the review, it was confirmed that were no issues with treatment on the job, accommodation, Ieave entitlements or freedom of moment in Jamaica. It however revealed two issues which required immediate attention.

Among the concerns identified was the fact that Cuban personnel were not in possession of their own passports. Once that was brought to the Government’s attention. immediate steps were taken to correct it. The issue was raised with Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency as well as the Cuban authorities locally to ensure that all personnel were allowed to hold their passports.

More fundamentally, the Government also discovered dint salary payments for Cuban medical personnel, while calculated at the same level as their Jamaican counterparts, were being made by Jtunaica to the Cuban authorities in US dollars. The only payments made directly by the Government of Jamaica to the personnel themselves. were overtime payments. Even more concerning, there was no contractual provision specifying what share of those salary payments was to be paid to the workers. That arrangement raised serious concerns under Jamaican labour and tax laws as well as under international labour conventions.

The Government chose the path of respectful engagement and quiet diplomacy.

Beginning in July of last year. Jamaica commenced formal discussions with the Cuban authorities aimed at restructuring the arrangement to ensure compliance with Jamaican law and international conventions, which require that workers be paid directly and have control of their travel documents.

Following Cabinet discussions, a formal proposal was made in October, and this was followed up by a further formal communication in December. These efforts were reinforced by direct enquiries to both former and current Cuban Ambassadors, as well as informal engagements at the Ministerial level.

For absolute clarity, the Government of Jamaica proposed continuation of the programme with adjustments. It remains disappointed that despite these repeated efforts, no substantive response was ever received whether verbally or in writing from Cuba

At the same time, Jamaica became aware that other Caribbean countries had arrangements under which Cuban medical personnel were paid directly. That made it even clearer that a lawful and transparent alternative was possible.

 Unfortunately, the continued lack of response had the practical effect of preserving an arrangement that Jamaica could not justify. Given our legal obligation, our duty to ensure fairness to workers in Jamaica and the need for compliance with our own laws and international conventions. the Government ultimately concluded that continuation on the existing terms was untenable.

Jamaica’s position is therefore clean we value the contribution of Cuban medical personnel we respect the Cuban people, and we remain committed to cooperation. However, no programme operating in Jamaica can continue on terms that are inconsistent with Jamaican law and international conventions.

Thc Government of Jamaica is disappointed that the Cuban government has chosen to withdraw their medical personnel when all that is required is for them to agree to terms which they have already accepted with other Caribbean countries.