In a significant policy shift, 128 Cuban doctors will have to depart Honduras following the government's choice not to renew a cooperation agreement that has been in place for two years. This decision was announced by official sources on Tuesday.
The agreement, initially signed during the tenure of leftist President Xiomara Castro, is set to expire next Wednesday. The current administration, led by President Nasry Asfura and supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has opted against extending the deal.
"The withdrawal of the Cuban doctors is a matter of foreign policy," stated the Secretary of Communications, José Augusto Argueta, during an interview with local channel HCH.
Eduardo Midence, the Deputy Minister of Health, emphasized that the departing brigade will be replaced by qualified national or foreign medical professionals. "We are committed to hiring Honduran or duly accredited foreign doctors," he asserted.
Gonzalo Valerio, from the Honduras-Cuba Friendship Association, noted that the group consists of 128 specialists who are currently awaiting the arrangement of a charter flight to return to Cuba by early March.
Honduras joins other regional nations that have recently terminated similar agreements with Havana. Both Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda have canceled such accords, and Guyana is considering directly compensating Cuban professionals due to U.S. pressure, which has labeled these missions as forms of modern-day servitude.
One of the key initiatives conducted by the Cuban medical team in Honduras was the ophthalmological care program known as Misión Milagro, launched decades ago by Fidel Castro. By October 2025, the program had facilitated around 44,000 consultations and nearly 7,000 surgeries, according to official reports.
The Deputy Minister of Health assured that the clinics providing these treatments will remain operational and that services will continue under the supervision of new healthcare professionals.
The deployment of medical brigades is a crucial source of foreign currency for the Cuban regime, which sustains similar arrangements in various countries. The Honduran decision comes amid escalating international scrutiny over these medical programs.
Impact of Honduras' Decision on Cuban Medical Brigades
Why is Honduras ending the agreement with Cuban doctors?
Honduras is ending the agreement as a decision of foreign policy under the new administration, which aligns with U.S. pressure against such programs.
What will replace the Cuban medical brigade in Honduras?
The Honduran government plans to replace the Cuban brigade with qualified national or foreign doctors who are properly accredited.
How does the decision affect Cuba's economy?
The decision impacts Cuba's economy by reducing one of its key sources of foreign currency, as medical missions abroad are a significant income stream for the regime.