In a public clarification issued on August 27, 2026, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard has pushed back against recent allegations that the Briceño administration is forcing Cuban medical professionals serving in the country to return to Cuba. The controversy erupted earlier this week when opposition figure Wil Maheia claimed on social media that shipping containers holding the personal effects of Cuban doctors were being sent back to the island nation, implying a forced exit of the long-serving medical contingent.
Bernard labeled Maheia’s claims as irresponsible and taken completely out of context during a press briefing Thursday morning. He explained that the routine annual vacation cycle for Cuban doctors assigned to Belize is the actual reason for the shipments of personal items. Since the brigade’s members take staggered leave throughout the year to avoid straining local healthcare services, it is common practice for doctors to bring personal gifts and belongings back to family members in Cuba when they travel home for breaks. Contrary to the narrative spread online, Bernard stressed that the government has not ordered any forced departures of Cuban medical staff, who remain fully employed and active across Belize’s public health system.
While the claims of forced exit have been officially refuted, the long-term future of the Cuban medical brigade in Belize remains unresolved as bilateral diplomatic negotiations between the two countries continue. Bernard confirmed that ongoing discussions are addressing the terms of the brigade’s continued service, and he expects a final decision to be presented to the Belizean Cabinet for approval by September 2026. Both the Cuban medical contingent and the Belizean government are seeking a mutually amicable resolution that preserves the brigade’s contributions, he added, noting that the administration greatly values the support Cuban doctors have provided to Belize’s healthcare system over the years.
To prepare for any outcome of the diplomatic talks, the Ministry of Health has been moving forward with long-standing plans to strengthen Belize’s domestic medical workforce. The government has invested in advanced specialty training for local doctors, with five physicians currently set to return to the country after completing programs abroad: two in nephrology, two in obstetrics, and one in pediatrics. A pediatric oncologist, Dr. Cawich, has already completed her training and begun work at the country’s main public hospital, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), while additional local doctors are training in radiology and other specialties in Taiwan. Bernard also confirmed that the administration is exploring alternative sources of medical personnel to supplement domestic capacity, including ongoing talks to recruit qualified healthcare professionals from the Philippines to serve in Belize.
Across all contingency planning, Bernard emphasized that the government’s top priority is to guarantee uninterrupted access to essential healthcare services for all Belizean citizens, no matter what the final outcome of the diplomatic negotiations on the Cuban medical brigade.