On a mission: how Cuba uses its doctors abroad

Why do they care? Narratives of physician volunteers on motivations for participation in short‐term medical missions abroad

“…Nationalistic motivations appear minimal. The “soft power” implications that accompany health care–related transfers by United States Agency for International Development, US military efforts in disaster relief, its navy hospital ships, as well as the examples of Cuba and Taiwan who deploy direct health care services with overt soft power intentions rarely resonate with the motivations of US STMM participants . More so, subjects emphasized their acquired perceptions that these one‐to‐one transactions constitute a more efficient effort than routing tax dollars through federally sanctioned aid programs, counterbalancing the potential criticisms regarding a lack of evidence for economic or health status effects of STMMs on LMICs .…”

“…9,10 Subjects were asked to consider "soft power" (Continues) implications that may be found in the social persuasion elements of health care-related transfers by USAID as well as US military efforts in disaster relief and its navy hospital ships. 9,10 The examples of Cuba and Taiwan deploying direct health care services with overt soft power intentions were mooted ( 27,28 ). How these constructs applied to STMMs, ie, cross-cultural awareness and the implications of soft power were discussed with subjects.…”

Hard Currency, Solidarity, and Soft Power: The Motives, Implications, and Lessons of Cuban Health Internationalism

“…The Cuban government has tried to expand private treatment for foreign nationals and has established specific organizations to arrange these services. Some within Cuba are concerned that this policy has created a 2-tier system, 30 but this is often justified by arguments that resources generated can strengthen health services for ordinary Cubans.…”

Is There a Surplus of Non-Specialist Physicians in Portugal or Just Poor Human Resources Planning?

“…The best practical example of this view and with known consequences worldwide is Cuba. 3 Non-specialist physicians in an increasingly competitive market are appealing to entities looking for low cost medical labour (and the liability linked to it) without considering the best result for the patient and the best benefit for the health system.…”