Guatemala will phase out its 30-year program of employing Cuban doctors, as announced by its health ministry, citing the completion of the mission’s cycles initiated post-Hurricane Mitch in 1998. This decision aligns with increasing US pressure to restrict Cuba’s medical missions, which are viewed as a significant revenue source for the Cuban government amid sanctions. Guatemala’s shift comes under President Bernardo Arevalo, who has strengthened ties with the US. The US has labeled Cuba’s foreign medical missions as “forced labor,” aiming to limit Havana’s income from these programs.
