Guatemala to wind down Cuban doctors program this year

GUATEMALA CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) – Over the course of this year Guatemala will end its participation in a program that has brought hundreds of Cuban healthcare workers to practice medicine in the Central American country, the Guatemalan government said on Tuesday.

There are currently 412 healthcare workers, including 333 doctors, working in Guatemala as part of the program, Guatemala’s health ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the decision was based on a “technical analysis” to strengthen the national health system and guarantee “continuity of services.”

The announcement comes just as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is pressuring countries to severe ties with Cuba’s government, and has questioned Mexico over its own program for bringing Cuban doctors to the country.

The Bahamas in June said it was preparing to cancel contracts with Cuban healthcare professionals after discussions with the U.S. government.

Trump’s administration has also expanded a visa restriction policy to target Cuban officials believed to be tied to a labor program that sends Cuban workers overseas.

Guatemala last month signed a trade deal with the United States, which is its biggest trade partner.

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu, Writing by Brendan O’Boyle, Editing by Natalia Siniawski)