Thursday, August 14, 2025 - The United States has announced plans to impose visa restrictions on several African leaders, with Kenya potentially among those affected, over the use of Cuban doctors in national healthcare systems.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 14th, US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the sanctions would target African,
Cuban, and Grenadian officials allegedly complicit in what Washington described
as Cuba’s “coerced forced labour export scheme.”
Kenya participated in the Cuban doctors’ programme from 2018
under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, deploying dozens of Cuban specialists to
local hospitals while sending Kenyan doctors to Cuba for training.
The deal ended in 2023, with the Government citing the need
to address high unemployment among local health workers.
“The State Department is taking steps to impose visa
restrictions on officials complicit in the Cuban regime’s coerced labour
scheme. Countries engaged in this exploitative practice should think twice,”
the statement read.
According to Washington, the programme involved hiring Cuban
doctors at high fees, with most of the earnings retained by Havana rather than
the medics themselves.
The US said the practice enriched Cuba’s political elite
while limiting healthcare access for its citizens.
The statement urged Governments to pay foreign doctors
directly instead of through the Cuban state, which it labelled “regime slave
masters,” and called on nations supporting democracy to join in confronting the
Cuban government’s actions.
Although the list of targeted officials has not been
released, the US signalled more measures could follow.
The programme, which has operated since 1959, remains a
major source of foreign currency for Cuba, which is currently battling severe
economic issues and inflation.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
0 Comments