At least 1,307 Cuban doctors have left Brazil
The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) confirmed that 1,307 Cuban doctors from the More Doctors program have left Brazil for Cuba. Seven flights were reported to have been chartered and more are expected to come in the coming days.
The medics were stationed in 16 sanitary indigenous districts and 733 municipalities across 26 states. Acre, in the north, is the only state where no departures have been reported.
On November 14, Cuba’s health authorities announced their withdrawal from the More Doctors initiative as they did not agree with the demands made by President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro. Since then, Cuban health agents started returning to their country.
The international cooperation through PAHO for the More Doctors program was approved in 2013. The number of Cuban doctors was reduced over the course of the last five years from over 11 thousand to 8.3 thousand.
Brazil’s Health Ministry has invited a tender to occupy the posts previously occupied by the Cuban doctors. The new agents are expected to start working on December 14.
