“We’ve gone two months without a salary and three without receiving payment for our medical shifts,” a Cuban doctor stationed in Guyana told elTOQUE under condition of anonymity.

The doctor’s statement aligns with mounting testimonies from members of the Cuban medical brigade in Guyana and recent comments by senior Guyanese officials that hint at a potential overhaul of how the country hires Cuban healthcare workers—though no official confirmation has been made.

This possible policy shift follows U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Caribbean tour in late March 2025, during which he urged leaders in Jamaica, Suriname, and Guyana to bypass Havana and hire Cuban doctors directly. Rubio denounced Cuba’s medical missions as “an appalling practice.”

“In many parts of the world, Cuban doctors are not paid directly. The Cuban government gets the money. Their passports are confiscated. It’s essentially forced labor,” Rubio said. Since then, Guyana, like Jamaica and The Bahamas, appears to be reevaluating its agreements. The Bahamas has already scrapped its group contracts and proposed direct hires—a move that could upend Cuba’s medical service exports in the region.

Yet Guyana’s position has been anything but consistent. Just days before Rubio’s visit, President Irfaan Ali defended the nation’s cooperation with Cuba, stating he didn’t see a future in which Georgetown would “abandon Cuba on this issue.” However, in the months since, top officials have signaled a change in tone.

In June 2025, Foreign Minister Hugh Todd told the Associated Press that Guyana is reviewing its hiring model to ensure compliance with “international labor laws.” Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo added that the government is seeking to align employment conditions with “requirements established by the United States.”

“The Cuban side gives no explanation—they just say we have to wait. But no one seems to care how we’re surviving,” said the doctor who reached out to elTOQUE. While the Guyanese government covers housing, water, and electricity for Cuban professionals, they must pay for food, transportation, and remittances home out of pocket. With no income, many have turned to loans or sought help from relatives abroad.

Diario de Cuba reported that in mid-June 2025, after summoning the Cuban brigade to the Georgetown Public Hospital, Guyanese authorities were preparing to sign direct contracts with individual doctors. However, the plan was abruptly scrapped. A source told the outlet that Cuba’s government intervened, pressuring officials to back down and warning brigade members they’d be treated as deserters and barred from re-entering Cuba for eight years if they left the mission.

Cuba’s medical collaboration with Guyana spans nearly 50 years. Currently, Cuban doctors in Guyana receive about 265,000 Guyanese dollars per month (roughly USD $1,200), while nurses earn around $850. The doctor who spoke to elTOQUE said he had no idea how much the Cuban authorities kept, though other sources suggest it could be comparable to the amount paid to the professionals themselves.

“That information doesn’t appear in the contract we signed before leaving,” the doctor added. “We didn’t even keep a copy. We signed in Cuba before departure—no photocopies allowed, and no photos with our phones.”

This is not the first time payments have been delayed. “Last year there was a 20-day delay, but at least we had communication and it got resolved. Now, there’s no contact whatsoever between the two parties,” he said.

The ongoing uncertainty has prompted some to consider walking off the job if salaries aren’t paid by the end of the second unpaid month. “Many have said they won’t continue working beyond that point until the issue is resolved.”

“The Cuban side only tells us to keep working and wait for both sides to reach an agreement,” the doctor said. “There’s a lot of stress and frustration. It’s not good to work like this because it can lead to mistakes—and we’re dealing with human lives. They deserve the best care. They’re not to blame for what’s happening. This kind of pressure could lead to medical errors.”

The doctor used the term iatrogenia, which refers to harm or adverse effects caused by medical treatment or advice. He attributed this risk to the intense stress Cuban doctors have been under in recent months.

“It’s a desperate situation. Refusing to work could mean losing our legal residency and the benefits Guyana provides—which we depend on right now. Honestly, it feels like we’re living under conditions of slavery,” he said.

The doctor has been stationed in Guyana for nearly three years. “Everything is handled by the mission. We have no contact with anyone coordinating between the two governments. And our contract only lists our salary and duties, with very few rights.”

elTOQUE reached out to Guyana’s Ministry of Health requesting official information on the status of its medical cooperation agreements with Cuba. As of publication, there has been no response.

In May, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) sent a letter to governments across the Americas requesting details on the hiring and labor conditions of Cuban medical brigades. The document, obtained by the Associated Press, seeks clarity on whether these workers have labor and union rights, and whether complaints have been filed about their conditions. The Guyanese government told Stabroek News it intends to respond to the IACHR, but gave no further details.

“If things continue like this, the fairest thing would be to pay us what we’re owed and send us back to Cuba,” said the doctor. Some have already given up hope and just want to finish their term. Others are still clinging to the hope of a resolution. “Everything here is up in the air. There was talk of an extension, but that’s been forgotten.”