From BBC

Cuba has reinstated restrictions on doctors leaving the island to work in the United States and other countries.

Doctors will now have to apply for a special permit before going abroad.

Cuba’s health services have been “seriously affected” by the large number of doctors who have moved abroad since controls were eased in 2013, the authorities said.

The government also criticised a US policy aimed at recruiting Cuban doctors and other health workers.

“It must be recalled that the United States government has historically used its migratory policy as a weapon against the Revolution, and has, for political reasons, encouraged emigration from Cuba,” says a government statement published in the official newspaper, Granma.

The US and communist Cuba restored relations earlier this year after more than 50 years of hostilities, but the US trade embargo remains in place.
‘Wet-foot-dry-foot’

A huge number of qualified health professionals have left Cuba over the past two years.

Most of them try to reach the United States, which has a special immigration policy for Cuban citizens, known as “wet-foot-dry-foot”.

Cubans who reach the US by land through a third country are offered automatic residency.

Some 3,000 Cubans are currently stranded in Costa Rica, having abandoned Cuban health missions in Latin American countries.

“The Government of the Republic of Cuba has expressed its concern and has maintained contact with the countries involved in the search for a rapid, adequate solution,” reads the government statement.

Since Raul Castro took over from his brother, Fidel, in 2008, his main policy has been to ease strict economic and travel restrictions in place for decades.

In September, Havana announced it would welcome back doctors who deserted while working abroad on programmes sponsored by the island’s communist government.

Doctors would be offered their jobs back and incur no punishment or loss of status.

The Cuban government says it has some 50,000 health workers engaged in health projects in 68 countries. Half of them are doctors.

Critics say the highly-trained professionals are underpaid, while the Cuban government charges other countries for the service and makes significant profits.

IMAGES:
Image copyright AFP Cuba says its much-praised healthcare system is facing shortages of doctors in key specialities
Migrants hoping to reach the US by land were denied access into Nicaragua, whose government is close to Cuba
Nicaragua accused Costa Rica of hurling Cuban migrants at its southern border

For more on this story go to: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34979512