In March 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Jamaica to discuss concerns over Cuban medical missions, among other regional issues, but faced pushback from Jamaican leadership. Rubio, a Cuban-American critical of Cuba’s government, argued that the Cuban medical programme, which deploys doctors to countries like Jamaica, involves human trafficking and labor exploitation, as the Cuban regime allegedly withholds doctors’ pay and passports.

He announced that the Trump administration would impose visa bans on foreign officials supporting such programmes, aiming to cut off Cuba’s access to hard currency. During a press conference in Kingston, Rubio emphasized engaging with Jamaica to better understand its programme while maintaining the U.S. stance against Cuba’s practices.

But Jamaica is not the only country practicing this exchange. The South African medical exchange programme with Cuba, known as the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro Medical Collaboration Programme, has been training South African students in medicine since 1997. Its primary goal is to address the shortage of doctors, particularly in rural and underserved areas, by sending students to study in Cuban medical schools. After completing their training, students return to South Africa for further clinical integration and to serve in primary healthcare settings. The programme, funded by the South African government through provincial health departments, has produced around 700 graduates annually from 2018 to 2022, significantly impacting healthcare delivery in rural communities.

But the programme has been criticised because of the the quality and relevance of Cuban training. The Cuban system has been credibly accused of fraudulently suppressing infant mortality, and has a different medical methodology which differs from South Africa’s healthcare system, potentially leaving graduates underprepared.

Students have also faced issues like learning medical terminology in Spanish and adapting to South African practices upon return, requiring additional re-training for up to three years. A 2013 strike by 187 students over a lack of stipends and poor living conditions in Cuba has been indicative of conditions, which have not changed since.

In 2022, Afriforum secured a court interdict to halt a R50 million donation intended for Cuban food relief, arguing it was unjustifiable given South Africa’s economic struggles. By 2023, their efforts led to the donation being permanently blocked without parliamentary approval.

But the programme persists today, supported by Wits and UCT medical schools, despite criticism and poor quality results.

Should this reach Marco Rubio’s radar, South Africa’s status regarding the looming targeted sanctions threatened by the present American regime may be exacerbated.

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