The U.S. denounces that the Cuban regime earns over $4.9 billion a year from medical missions

The U.S. government denounced this Friday that the Cuban regime earns over 4.9 billion dollars a year from medical missions; the message was issued a day after calling for an end to human trafficking through these types of practices.

A through the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the Department of State, Washington condemned that while fair labor practices were not offered to the doctors of the missions, the regime was increasing its profits.

"The Cuban regime benefits from forced labor while ordinary Cubans suffer. Medical professionals must serve voluntarily, not under duress," stated the government body.

According to reports, over 26,000 Cuban medical workers are sent to 55 countries, subjected to exploitation and forced labor, while the Cuban regime pockets more than 4.9 billion dollars a year.

Despite those million-dollar profits, Cubans are facing a healthcare crisis that deprives them of essential medications and medical supplies.

This Thursday, in addition, the U.S. Department of State had already warned governments that maintain agreements with the Cuban regime to receive healthcare personnel from the so-called medical missions, urging them to seek fair alternatives that do not violate the rights of professionals.

The U.S. government insisted that "governments hosting Cuban medical missions must ensure fair labor practices."

He also emphasized that "transparency is key: agreements must be public and Cuban medical workers should have the same rights as local medical professionals, not be treated as commodities by the Cuban regime."

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described in March the international medical missions organized by the Cuban regime as "an atrocious practice" for operating under conditions of labor exploitation.

However, he argued that he would evaluate each case individually in the Caribbean, as several countries depend on these services, and he acknowledged that there are places where Cuban specialists have "better working standards."

In a stance against this form of "modern slavery" and "forced labor," as described by the European Parliament, an amendment to the annual foreign policy report was approved this Friday, marking a turning point in the European bloc's diplomatic approach toward the regime in Havana.

It concerns the Amendment 311 and denounces that these medical missions promoted by the Cuban regime as a gesture of solidarity are nothing more than a mechanism of exploitation that violates the fundamental freedoms of the doctors and health professionals who participate in them.

Presented by Spanish Europarliament member Antonio López-Istúriz White, it was included in the document that guides the international actions of the European Union, which also includes condemnations of the dictatorships in Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Medical Missions