It has now been just over four years since the first group of US students were sent off to Cuba as a part of a training program that was offered by Cuba's Ministry of Health (MINSAP). This was their addition to a school only for foreign nationals that was born out of the turmoil of Hurricanes George and Mitch in 1999 that devastated much of Latin America.
MINSAP, at President Fidel Castro's suggestion, provided the facilities, the faculty and even lodging for those qualified candidates from Latin America to attend the Latin American School of Medicine (LAMS). LAMS was quickly expanded to include several countries in South America and Africa. By 2000, over 5000 students were enrolled for a six year training period that led to an MD degree that would be honored by the countries of origin. This was all intended to provide them with much needed health professionals.
Serendipitously, out of an at first casual meeting between President Castro and members of the US Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the school was further opened to qualified US premedical students who would receive the same benefits offered the others at LAMS and eventually present for the US medical boards. By international law, honored by every nation, these students would become practicing medical doctors, hopefully in those underserved areas in the US. At this writing, almost 100 students from the US are underway in their studies.
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Assurances were given by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) via the US Department of Treasury that despite the turmoil that is the blockade of Cuba by the US government, the schooling and degree would allow for the returning students to present for their boards. This year, 2004, the first student who had received some course credits from a US medical college will take the exams for US licensing.
Rather suddenly, however, these past few months, out of the heat generated by the right-wing of the Cuban community in Florida, the Bush administration, likely with an eye on the upcoming November elections, issued more severe restrictions on Cuban travel that seriously affected the medical students. Although they are considered fully hosted, the OFAC indicated they would not be permitted to continue in the school, despite those previous assurances.
Immediately an appeal was made to the OFAC and that situation has now been some relieved. Further appeals are underway to allow for their full study without concerns.
--Don Sloan is assistant editor of Political Affairs.
