Brazil not to afford Cuban doctors’ return trip

Brazilian Health Minister Gilberto Occhi said that the government will not afford the logistics and transport for the over 8 thousand Cuban doctors no longer working in the country.

“Under the deal, they were entitled to a return trip, tickets, vacations, and such. But since the decision [to terminate the contract] was made unilaterally by Cuba’s government, these costs all go to the Cuban government,” Occhi said Monday (Nov. 19). He said Brazil’s Armed Forces and the federal government will not get involved in the departure of Cuban doctors.

“The Cuban [doctors] are already leaving the country. Those on vacation or leave will no longer return. So it’s a gradual exit. This is a decision on Cuba’s part, not a Brazilian decision, so Brazil will not afford any of the costs arising from their departure,” he stated.

Background

Last week, Brazil’s Health Ministry received a statement from PAHO reporting that Cuba was no longer to participate in Brazil’s More Doctors program. The demands made by President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro were described as “unacceptable,” and alleged to “violate” previous deals.

On Twitter, Bolsonaro wrote Cuban doctors would be allowed to stay if they took the exam designed to re-validate foreign diplomas, if they were paid their full salary (some 70 percent of their pay is sent to the Cuban government), and if they were allowed to bring over family members. Cuba did not agree to comply.