GEORGETOWN, Guyana — A nearly five-decade medical cooperation agreement between Cuba and Guyana has reached an abrupt conclusion following a fundamental disagreement regarding compensation protocols for healthcare professionals. The dissolution emerged after Guyanese authorities proposed altering the payment structure to disburse salaries directly to medical personnel rather than channeling funds through the Cuban government.
Health Minister Frank Anthony confirmed on Monday that Cuban officials have elected to withdraw their entire medical contingent from the South American nation. This decision affects over 200 physicians and nurses who have received instructions to prepare for departure. Minister Anthony noted that despite ongoing negotiations, Cuban authorities ultimately chose to terminate the long-standing program.
The Guyanese government has expressed willingness to maintain healthcare services by offering individual employment contracts to any Cuban medical professionals who wish to remain in the country independently. This development places Guyana among several nations experiencing similar withdrawals of Cuban medical teams, including Jamaica which recently announced comparable changes to its healthcare agreements with Havana.
The Cuban medical brigade program has faced international criticism, particularly from the United States which has characterized the initiative as exploitative labor practice. Washington contends that Havana profits significantly from these arrangements while medical personnel receive only fractional compensation. In 2025, the U.S. government threatened visa restrictions against officials from multiple countries who maintained affiliations with Cuba’s medical deployment programs.
Despite the current impasse, Cuba and Guyana maintain historically strong diplomatic relations. During the COVID-19 pandemic peak in 2021, more than sixty Cuban doctors provided critical support to Guyana’s healthcare system. Cuba has also contributed substantially to medical education in Guyana, training numerous healthcare professionals throughout their partnership.