March 12 (UPI) -- Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have begun to end or review medical cooperation agreements with Cuba -- a program that for decades allowed the island's government to send thousands of health professionals abroad.
The system became one of the most visible instruments of Havana's international diplomacy and an important source of income for the Cuban government.
The model is based on agreements between governments under which the host country pays Cuba for medical services, while the professionals receive only a portion of the fees. The arrangement now faces growing international scrutiny over how it operates and the labor conditions involved.
According to some studies cited by The New York Times, Cuba obtains billions of dollars a year through exporting professional services, including health specialists
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