Cuba’s communist government has accused the United States of “discriminatory treatment” for purportedly barring Deputy Health Minister Tania Margarita Cruz from attending events at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which is linked to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Cruz also claimed that the US had refused to issue visas to her delegation based in Havana.
Paho has been significant for years, playing a role in the Castro regime’s agreements where Cuban doctors are deployed as part of international medical missions. The upcoming 62nd Council of Superintendents is scheduled in Washington, DC from September 29 to October 29.
Cruz, who has been a member of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party since 2021, criticized the US government for this alleged discrimination through the state-controlled outlet Pren Salatina. She was in New York last week for the UN General Assembly but stated that the US used travel permit requirements to keep her from participating in the PAHO council meeting.
Officials from her administration suggest that the US has actively blocked her delegation’s attendance after they were denied visas in Havana.
Cruz remarked, “This action represents discrimination against Cuba, an active member of PAHO. It reflects poorly on the US as the host country and shows that they are trying to silence Cuba’s voice without a valid argument against our position.”
The Cuban government contended that it is not just a member of PAHO but also a leading contributor to health insurance efforts in the region. Cruz argued that both WHO and PAHO have recognized Cuba’s public health initiatives positively.
Recently, the Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have tightened visa restrictions for Cuban officials involved in the government’s longstanding medical missions.
The Castro administration has been known to send thousands of Cuban doctors abroad under these missions while keeping most of the earnings for itself, failing to provide fair compensation to the doctors, who often face harsh conditions. The administration enforces severe penalties on those who attempt to leave these missions.
“This arrangement enriches the corrupt regime while depriving the Cuban people of essential healthcare,” the State Department stated.
Hours before the State Department released its 2025 human trafficking report, Cruz accused the US of discrimination. Cuba remains classified as “Tier 3,” largely due to human trafficking practices associated with the Castro regime. Other countries like Brazil and South Africa were downgraded in the same report due to their lack of progress against trafficking.
The report identifies Cuba as exploiting its citizens through forced labor, characterizing its doctor scheme as “state-sponsored human trafficking.” It noted that in 2022 alone, this scheme brought in $4.9 billion in revenues.
The report criticizes the Cuban government for failing to meet minimum standards for eradicating human trafficking and for not showing substantial efforts in that regard. It details patterns of forced labor within the regime’s export labor programs.
The report also highlights that while the Cuban government has taken some measures to address trafficking, including convictions, it has relied on manipulation and threats to recruit workers.
“The administration imposes excessive control over Cuban workers abroad, often violating international standards for health and safety,” the State Department mentioned.
Specific measures against so-called “deserters” from the program were also noted, with the regime continuing to enforce harsh penalties.
By 2021, around 40,000 government-affiliated workers were reported by international NGOs as part of these regulations, with the 2022 data showing around 5,000 children separated from their parents due to program enforcement.
As of early 2025, there are approximately 26,000 Cuban workers abroad in more than 55 countries. The payments for these workers are frequently deposited into local accounts but are inaccessible until the completion of their service, with many only getting to access their funds after being in Cuba for an extended period.
The report also pointed out deceptive practices leading to Cuban citizens being misled by Russian-affiliated entities, specifically referencing cases of individuals caught up in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The State Department remarked that while the Doctor Scheme is the Castro government’s primary revenue source, forced labor practices extend to other sectors like education, sports, and culture, with reports of abuse and exploitation emerging from various countries.
