Uruguay confirms continued Cuban medical program at Montevideo eye hospital

Uruguay seeks direct payment mechanism for Cuban doctors to address U.S. concerns

Uruguay’s government confirmed on Monday that it will maintain its agreement allowing Cuban doctors to work at the José Martí Specialized Eye Hospital in Montevideo, despite what officials described as U.S. pressure to end the country’s longstanding healthcare cooperation with Cuba. The dispute comes as the Trump administration has characterized Cuba’s overseas medical missions as involving alleged forced labor.

Uruguayan presidential secretary Alejandro Sánchez defended the country’s sovereignty in response to the U.S. warnings. “We are going to continue working with Cuban doctors because Uruguay, in addition to being a free country, allows anyone who wants to work in Uruguay to do so. … Uruguayans do what we believe is best for the country, without accepting orders from others,” Sánchez said in an interview with local outlet El Eco Digital published Monday.

Sánchez said the work of Cuban specialists has helped more than 100,000 Uruguayan patients regain their sight over the past two decades. He highlighted the program’s impact on people who otherwise could face greater difficulties accessing certain ophthalmological services.

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin described the country’s experience with Cuban medical professionals as “extraordinary” and said the government intends to preserve the program, according to local outlet Caras y Caretas.

The Cuban medical brigade, currently consisting of about 21 healthcare workers, has operated in Uruguay since 2007 as part of Operation Miracle, a Cuban-backed program that provides eye care.

Documents from Archivo Cuba reviewed by Diario de Cuba show that Uruguay authorized $250,000 annually for the program. The funding is channeled through Uruguayan public agencies and is intended to cover the “comprehensive implementation of ongoing cooperation” through Dec. 31.

The U.S. State Department included Uruguay on a list of 15 countries whose governments make direct payments to the Cuban government for services provided through Cuban medical missions. The document was sent to Congress in late August. The report was required under legislation approved in February that mandates scrutiny of healthcare missions Washington says may involve forced labor.

The U.S. Embassy in Montevideo said Uruguay was included on the list because payments under the agreement are institutionally channeled directly to the Cuban Embassy. U.S. officials said they had no evidence the funds were transferred in full to the doctors or paid directly to them as salaries, according to The Rio Times.

Uruguay is seeking a mechanism that would allow Cuban medical professionals to receive payment directly for their services, according to Búsqueda and Infobae. The goal is to preserve the eye care program while changing the way payments are transferred to address Washington’s objections.

U.S. law stipulates that if a country remains on the list for two consecutive years, it could face the automatic suspension of U.S. international financial assistance and military support. Questions remain about the financial terms of the agreement, Diario de Cuba reported. It is unclear how much the program costs in total, whether payments are made to the Cuban government for each doctor and what portion of the funds remains under Havana’s control.