Cuban medical diplomacy: a human trafficking business with a "humanitarian" facade

Abstract

For nearly six decades, the Cuban regime has "exported" temporary workers to Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. At least 85 Cuban state-owned companies sell export services under bilateral government-to-government or Cuban government-to-government "cooperation" agreements with companies based abroad. According to Cuba, 75% are health professionals; the rest are sports coaches, architects, geologists, musicians, sailors, tobacco twisters, construction workers and many in other capacities. The Cuban government refers to them as "collaborators" or "cooperantes", although in certain contexts they are called "proletarian internationalists".