How COVID-19 is revitalizing Cuba's medical diplomacy, even Trump's 'maximum pressure' aims to shut
How COVID-19 is revitalizing Cuba's medical diplomacy, even Trump's 'maximum pressure' aims to shut it down
The Editors, World Politics Review 3 hours ago
Cuba has long promoted its high-quality healthcare system by sending medical professionals to treat patients in other countries, "a show of soft power that also earns billions in badly needed hard currency," as the Associated Press recently put it.
While some right-wing governments in Latin America have sent their Cuban doctors packing in recent years, Havana is seeing a new surge in demand for its help as a result of the spread of COVID-19.
In an email interview with WPR, John Kirk, a professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, discusses Cuba's response to the coronavirus pandemic both domestically and overseas.
. . .
When countries pay for Cuban medical services, the government in Havana pays approximately 25% of the money received to the doctor or nurse, with the remainder going to support the national healthcare system on the island. The system is completely free and of good quality. The infant mortality rate in Cuba is 4 per 1,000 live births, and the mortality rate for children under 5 years old is 5 per 1,000—lower than in the United States.
More:
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-covid-19-pandemic-is-revitalizing-cuban-medical-diplomacy-2020-4#world-politics-review-how-has-cuba-accelerated-its-overseas-medical-assistance-program-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-what-kind-of-impact-are-cuban-doctors-having-in-affected-countries-1
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