Kenya’s government has decided to end a six-year-old deal that brought Cuban doctors to Kenya for work while Kenyan medical professionals were sent to Cuba for specialized training.
The program faced criticism, especially from Kenya’s main doctors union, due to the higher salaries paid to Cuban doctors compared to local practitioners.
Health Minister Nakumicha Wafula announced the termination of the Cuban deal during a meeting in Nairobi, receiving applause and support.
The agreement, signed in 2017, had been contentious from the start, with critics arguing that the funds spent on Cuban doctors’ high salaries could have been better used to support local healthcare infrastructure and professionals.
The decision reflects ongoing concerns about healthcare worker compensation and conditions in Kenya.