Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has rubbished social media reports that Jamaica is on the verge of sending home several Cuban medical personnel as it caves in to United States (US) pressure on countries involved in the programme.

Addressing journalists following a media briefing by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Andrew Wednesday afternoon, Tufton said while some Cuban medical personnel would be heading home shortly, this is not related to the stance of the US.

“The reality is that the [Cuban] mission allows for medical professionals to come for a period. As it turns out, coincidentally, this period has now come to an end for a number of them, so a number will go back for others to come. In some instances, extensions are granted but it is granted up to a particular point,” said Tufton as he noted that of the approximately 400 Cuban health personnel in the island now, one-third could be returning home with their replacements arriving shortly.

“The other coincidence…that is taking place is that currently we are renegotiating the MOU [memorandum of understanding] with the Cuban Government so there is a conversation that is taking place looking at the existing MOU, looking at the possibilities for change, and so there is an opportunity, given the recent discussions coming out of the US…for us to clarify issues and maybe adjust elements of the agreement,” added Tufton.

He said the Jamaican Government has always maintained that the conversations around the concerns raised by the US and the discussions that have taken place have not been hostile and there has been an attitude of collaboration between the two Administrations.

“We are attempting to find a common ground with all concerned — our chief trading partner, the US, and also a traditional and beneficial relationship with the Cubans,” said Tufton.

Earlier Rubio — who last month announced that the US could revoke the visas of foreign government officials whose countries employ Cuban doctors and nurses — struck a similarly conciliatory tone as he addressed the media briefing.

According to Rubio, there must be a separation between the medical personnel and the labour issues which the US is concerned about.

“This is not about doctors. This is not about the provision of medical assistance. We have no problem with medical assistance. We have no problems with doctors. We have a problem — and I am not speaking about Jamaica…about following international labour standard and the like.

“I am talking about this programme in general, how it is operated around the world. And how it is operated around the world is basically the doctors are not paid…You pay the Cuban Government and the Cuban Government decides how much of anything to give them, you take away their passports [and] they basically operate as forced labour,” said Rubio.

He pointed out that there are places with better labour standards and hinted that Jamaica may be one of those countries.

“Every country operates their programme differently, and obviously, because of our relationship with Jamaica, we are going to engage with them on that and talk about it further and have a better understanding.

“Perhaps none of that applies in the way it is handled here, but generally that [forced labour] is the problem with the programme. It is not that they are Cuban doctors…,” added Rubio.

In the meantime, Tufton, in his interview with journalists, was adamant that Cuban medical personnel, who provide valuable service in Jamaica’s public health system, are not exploited.

“In terms of our treatment of the Cubans who come here, it is no different from the treatment of our locals, except for any additional support based on the facts that they are not locals,” said Tufton.

He pointed to areas such as transport, housing, and logistics as among the support the Jamaican Government provides to the Cubans.