The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 16 months after the United States expanded visa restrictions tied to Cuba’s overseas medical missions, The Bahamas still has not resolved its arrangements with the US for Cuban healthcare workers, with Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville saying talks with the US Embassy are only now “near completion”.

The US announced the expanded visa restriction policy on February 25, 2025, targeting people tied to Cuba’s overseas labour export programme, particularly healthcare workers.

Yesterday, Dr Darville said the government continues to negotiate with US officials over the status of Cuban healthcare professionals in The Bahamas, months after he said in March that talks between The Bahamas and the United States were in the “final stages”.

The unresolved talks come as only three Cuban doctors are currently practising in The Bahamas, with the remaining Cuban healthcare workers serving as ECG technicians, laboratory technicians and radiographers, according to Dr Darville.

He said the government will update the media when the discussions conclude and said officials are working closely with US partners to ensure The Bahamas falls in line with US policy.

The matter has dragged on since the United States tightened pressure on countries participating in Cuba’s overseas medical programme. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in February 2025 that the expanded restrictions targeted people believed to be responsible for Cuba’s labour export programme and their immediate relatives. The United States has described the programme as forced labour, while Cuba has rejected such allegations.

Last year, after the US expanded visa restrictions targeting officials linked to Cuba’s overseas medical programme, the Davis administration announced it would review its arrangements with Cuban healthcare professionals.

The government later terminated contractual arrangements with Cuban healthcare professionals and sought to enter direct employment agreements with those who wished to remain in The Bahamas.

The decision followed discussions with the United States over Cuba’s overseas medical missions. The recruitment of additional Cuban healthcare workers was also put on hold pending those talks.

The issue has placed Caribbean governments under pressure as Washington targets Cuba’s medical missions, which several countries have relied on to help support strained health systems. ABC News reported in April that countries including The Bahamas, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Paraguay had begun phasing out the missions, reviewing medical cooperation agreements or cancelling contracts with the Cuban government.