Cuban Intervention in South African health Care Service Provision

This atticle considers the reasons for, and implications of Cuban development assistance being provided to the south African health care system. The provision of skulled Cuban doctors to South Africa has been a feature of post-apartheid health care services. Under a series of bilateral agreeements, ovet 450 Cuban doctors have taken placements in South Africa and over 250 South African medical students have undergone training in Cuba. The economic, political and symbolic incentives for this co-operation for both parties are considered against the cost incurred. Drawing upon historical link between the ANC and the Communist government in Cuba, this agreement provides both stats with much-needed resources. It is show that whilst short- to medium-term benefits outweigh the cost to both paraties, questions remain over its sustainability. South Africa is drawing upon Cuban "expetise in health care services to mitigate its shortage of healht care staff whilst providing financial and sumbolic capital to an anti-apartherid ally. In the long term, concers exist over the sustainability of this agreement in a post-Castro Cuba, as well as restictions on families accompanying doctors travelling to South Affrica, and recent rulings over the possibility for Cuban doctors to remain in South Africa beyond their initial contract.