Gov't says Cuba ended medical partnership

-assures no impact on healthcare system

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has clarified that the withdrawal of the Cuban Medical Brigade from Guyana was not a decision made by the government of Guyana, but by the Cuban government.

His statement comes amid reports suggesting that the Guyanese government had quietly ended the long-standing partnership.

"The Cuban withdrew their medical workers who were here. So the whole thing is over. It was done in February," the minister clarified while engaging reporters on the sidelines of an event today.

Minister Anthony explained that despite this decision, not all Cuban health care workers departed the country when the partnership ended.

He noted that several of them chose to remain and are now employed and paid by the government. 

Dr. Anthony also assured that the departure of the Cuban Medical Brigade will not affect the health care system, emphasising that measures are being implemented to strengthen and expand the local health care workforce. 

"A lot of the people who were on the brigade were nurses. And through our training program, we are compensating [for] those that would have been withdrawn.  Three years ago we started a registered nursing program, and by June of this year, we'll be graduating close to 800 persons," he added.

The minister also noted that discussions are ongoing with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to finalise an agreement that would allow doctors seeking employment to work locally once the criteria is met.