In response to the U.S. government’s threat of sanctions against countries utilizing the Cuban labor export program, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced today that the Guyanese government is reevaluating its plans to hire healthcare workers from Cuba.
During a press conference this afternoon, Jagdeo stated that while the government still intends to recruit professionals from Cuba, it will do so under specific conditions. He emphasized that the government is also exploring options to source healthcare workers from other countries to address the labor shortage in the sector.
“We are working to ensure that those coming here from Cuba meet the necessary definitions, as outlined by the U.S. Secretary of State, so that the working conditions do not violate U.S. requirements. However, we are actively recruiting from around the world,” Jagdeo explained.
He acknowledged that while there are many countries from which to recruit healthcare professionals, the government’s primary goal is to train as many Guyanese as possible to work within the system.
“The aim is to get our people working in the hospitals. We are recruiting nursing assistants and other personnel, but currently, we do not have enough healthcare workers to provide the expanded services that will be required with the opening of new hospitals. We need to improve their remuneration and working conditions,” he noted.
Jagdeo highlighted the existing shortage in the healthcare system and warned that this gap is expected to widen with the introduction of new hospitals.
While there may be concerns about importing foreign healthcare workers, he assured the public that the government will not allow the healthcare system to suffer due to a lack of Guyanese professionals.
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