Five Cuban health care workers for SVG

Three doctors and two pharmacists, from Cuba, will soon be supplementing the health workers in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

One of the doctors will be stationed in Sandy Bay where Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said there has been difficulty in getting local doctors.{{more}}

He said that after completing internships, the doctors were reluctant to work in places such as Sandy Bay and Georgetown.

The three doctors and two pharmacists will be provided with housing, transportation, a food allowance of EC$1,000 and US$100 or its equivalent in Eastern Caribbean dollars for personal use.

Prime Minister Gonsalves said that the Cuban Government has insisted that the health workers should not receive a regular salary nor should they be allowed to conduct a private practice.

Under the agreement with the Cuban Government, the doctors are also required to do research of their own initiative or if required by the Health Department.