Calabria Region in Italy Resists US Pressure to Maintain Cuban Medical Program Amid Domestic Health Challenges

POLISTENA, Italy: In a rare European example, Cuba has deployed over 200 medical professionals to Calabria, Italy’s southernmost region, which struggles with underdevelopment and a critical shortage of healthcare workers. Despite U.S. efforts to halt the initiative, the area’s governor has refused to terminate the program, citing its vital role in sustaining local hospitals.
Cuba’s medical missions, established to address healthcare gaps in low-resource regions, have been active in countries like Gambia and Venezuela for decades. In Calabria—ranked last among Italy’s 20 regions for public healthcare access—the Cuban staff now fill gaps left by departing local doctors, enabling hospitals to remain operational.
Francesco Moschella, chief physician at Polistena Hospital, recalled the crisis before the Cuban arrival in January 2023: “It was a disaster. I was keeping the emergency room open all by myself.” Since then, the hospital has seen a dramatic improvement, with six Cuban doctors comprising half of its emergency department.
The U.S. has long opposed the program, labeling it a revenue-generating mechanism for Cuba’s socialist government. During the Trump administration, pressure intensified, leading Caribbean and Central American nations to cancel Cuban missions. However, Calabria’s governor, Roberto Occhiuto—an unlikely advocate given his party’s anti-communist stance—has defied calls to withdraw.
“Even if Cuba’s socialism doesn’t align with my views, the region depends on them,” Occhiuto stated. His administration negotiated direct contracts with Cuban doctors, bypassing the Cuban government, and deposits salaries into Italian bank accounts. Yet, some Cubans reportedly still remit up to half their earnings to support their home country’s economy.
Critics, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have described the program as “human trafficking,” citing reports that Cuba retains most doctors’ salaries and restricts their passports. Cuban officials, however, frame the missions as a “solidarity effort,” deploying 22,000 personnel across 55 nations.
Local resident Maria Morano praised the Cuban staff’s professionalism and humility, contrasting them with Italian doctors: “They’re smart, empathetic, and humble—something you don’t often see here.” For now, Calabria remains committed to retaining Cuban doctors, with Occhiuto expressing a desire to expand their numbers while navigating diplomatic tensions with Washington.
The region’s persistent challenges—including a 30% lower wage rate and double the national unemployment—highlight the need for continued international healthcare support. Despite the controversy, Cuban doctors like Zoila Yakelin Arevalo Cruz, who left her child in Cuba, have become integral to sustaining Calabria’s healthcare infrastructure, serving 30,000 annual emergency patients in Polistena alone.
Recent developments saw the Cuban government remain silent on reports of some doctors seeking independent employment in Italy, following Calabria’s decision to offer direct contracts. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, the program underscores the complex interplay between humanitarian needs and international politics in addressing regional healthcare crises.

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