Antigua, St Lucia PMs defend Cuban medical training

(Barbados Nation) Two Caribbean prime ministers and this country’s Minister of Health are at odds with president of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), Dr Carlos Chase, over last week’s criticism of doctors trained in Cuba.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and St Lucia’s Stephenson King told the DAILY NATION yesterday that they did not agree with Chase’s comments.

In an email to BAMP’s membership, Chase registered concern about an alleged basic lack of medical knowledge, practical skills and confidence examining patients demonstrated by doctors trained in Cuba.

However, the two regional leaders argued that after rigorous training in Cuba, students would return home “fully competent”, even though they would still undergo more years of practical training and internship before they were certified by their medical councils.