Jamaica–Cuba Eye Care Programme to continue until March 28 amid transition plans

The Jamaica–Cuba Eye Care Programme at St Joseph's Hospital in St Andrew is set to continue until Saturday, March 28, with plans for alternative arrangements to be implemented after it ends, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton stated on Monday.

Launched in January 2010, the programme offers free surgical treatment for persons suffering from cataracts, diabetic retinopathy—damage to the retina caused by complications of diabetes mellitus—and pterygium, a non-cancerous fleshy growth, usually on the surface of the eye.

Following the Jamaican Government’s announcement last week that it had ended a 50-year-old medical cooperation mission with Cuba, many Jamaicans rushed to the facility to seek treatment from Cuban health professionals ahead of their departure from the island.

The government ended the decades-long mission due to unresolved issues in renegotiating the agreement, which expired in February 2023.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the programme became “untenable” due to concerns that Cuban medical personnel were not holding their own passports and that salaries, outside of overtime payments, were not paid directly to them but to the Cuban authorities in US dollars.

Jamaica’s decision comes amid increasing pressure from the United States over Cuba’s overseas medical missions, which Washington has accused of constituting forced labour and human trafficking.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Tufton said services under the eye care programme will be limited to surgery and post-operative care. He noted that approximately 130 Jamaicans were prepped for surgeries.

“Persons who previously received surgery under the programme are encouraged to attend their scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure proper recovery and continued care,” he said.

Tufton added that the government is working on alternative arrangements to ensure continuity of the screening programme, using staff at St Joseph’s as well as outsourcing.

“We understand and fully appreciate the benefits of the eye care programme at St Joseph’s. We know many Jamaicans have benefited from this, and it has been driven primarily by the agreement involving the Cuban workers,” he said.

Up to September 2023, a total of 3,476 sight-saving procedures had been performed under the initiative.

Cuba had shared its intention to withdraw 277 medical personnel on the island who helped fill shortfalls in the Jamaican healthcare system.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacqueline Bisasor McKenzie said a gap analysis is being conducted to determine needs at some facilities.

“We are going to try to ensure that any deficit is minimal. The first thing we are doing is ensuring proper resources are available within government facilities to continue services,” she said.

“We have ophthalmology services at the Kingston Public Hospital, Cornwall Regional Hospital, and the University Hospital of the West Indies. We are now looking at the gaps in their capacity to take up some of the slack and will ensure the necessary resources are provided,” she added.

Tufton, meanwhile, said “conversations continue” to negotiate individual contracts with Cuban medical personnel.

He also expressed gratitude to the Cuban healthcare workers.

“I want to recognise the Cuban government and people and the relationship under this programme. It is a good programme and has provided excellent services. To be clear, the offer is not to discontinue the relationship—it’s about adjusting the nature and configuration of the programme,” the health minister said.

- Sashana Small

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