# Alleged exploitation of Cuban medical missions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/alleged-exploitation-of-cuban-medical-missions
> Updated: 2026-08-25T11:43:33.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Human rights organizations have launched initiatives to document alleged labor exploitation and human rights violations within Cuba’s international medical missions. The ‘Cuban Medical Brigades’ digital platform, established by Prisoners Defenders and Consorcio Justicia, has compiled over 200 reports and 1,402 testimonies. These reports detail practices such as wage confiscation, surveillance, and family separation across 60 countries, characterizing the system as a mechanism for “modern slavery.”

Specific investigations have highlighted the financial mechanics of these missions. In Botswana, reports allege that while the host government pays approximately $4,094 per specialist monthly, the professionals receive only $1,000, with the remainder transferred to the Cuban state. Beyond financial exploitation, medical workers reportedly face significant restrictions on personal freedoms, including limitations on movement, social life, and freedom of expression. Javier Larrondo, president of Prisoners Defenders, stated that Botswana serves as the “financer, host, and material support” for this system.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: Prisoners Defenders report alleges exploitation of Cuban doctors in Botswana

A report by Prisoners Defenders alleges Cuban doctors in Botswana face exploitation, receiving only 24.4% of their $4,094 monthly fee while facing strict restrictions on movement and social life.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prisoners-defenders-report-alleges-exploitation-of-cuban-doctors-in-botswana

### 2026-08-19: Prisoners Defenders launches platform documenting Cuban medical mission abuses

Prisoners Defenders launched a digital platform documenting alleged labor exploitation and modern slavery within Cuban medical missions across 60 countries, including Venezuela and Mexico.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prisoners-defenders-launches-platform-documenting-cuban-medical-mission-abuses

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Cite as: Alleged exploitation of Cuban medical missions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/alleged-exploitation-of-cuban-medical-missions
