Guatemala Sends Cuban Medical Mission Packing

Guatemala’s health ministry said it will gradually send home the Cuban medical brigade working in the country, ending a nearly 30-year program. The brigade is made up of 412 medical workers, including 333 doctors, who serve patients throughout Guatemala’s health care system.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has coerced Latin American countries to sever ties with Cuba’s internationalist medical missions — a key source of income for the island — by restricting visas for Cuban officials and foreign government officials linked to the medical teams.

Paraguay, the Bahamas and Guyana have all recently ended their medical agreements with Cuba. Guyana said it will hire Cuban doctors directly rather than through an agreement with the Cuban government.