Fourteen Cuban doctors and 56 nurses join T&T health sector

(Trinidad Express) Seventy Cuban doctors and nurses were last Friday each granted two-year contracts for employment in the public health sector, as the Ministry of Health seeks to address the shortage of doctors and nurses in this country.

During the opening session of the Orientation Programme for Heath Professionals from the Republic of Cuba, which took place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Port of Spain, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said, “the work ethic of the Cuban professionals is something I ask our professionals to emulate.”

According to a press release from the Ministry, the group comprised 14 doctors and 56 nurses. The 14 doctors comprise 11 general practice physicians who will serve in the public health system’s primary care facilities and one ENT specialist, one nephrologist and one paediatrician who would serve within the hospital system.

The nurses’ specialties range from intensive care nursing to neonatal and community nursing, according to the release.

“The recruitment of foreign professionals forms part of the ministry’s overall strategy to address the shortage of doctors and nurses within the health system in the short and medium term.

“Attracting, training and recruitment of local human resource to fill vacancies within the sector remains the ultimate goal for filling the employment gap in the long term.

In the interim however, further retention of foreign healthcare professionals remains a priority given the significant shortage of health professionals in the public health sector,” the release stated.