Uruguay changes payments to Cuban doctors: money will go to the professionals

Uruguay will keep the 20 Cuban ophthalmologists working at José Martí Eye Hospital in the country but will change how they are paid. Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin said the government reached an understanding with the United States and Cuba on the new arrangement.

Under the new system, the Social Security Bank, known as BPS, will directly handle social protection and payment of each professional's stipend. The previous mechanism had Uruguay pay Cuban authorities under a cooperation agreement.

Lubetkin said the change allows the doctors' work to continue without interrupting their presence at the hospital. He also said the update was agreed after talks with U.S. and Cuban authorities.

The change follows Washington's objections to health-cooperation agreements with Cuba. The foreign minister said the professionals will continue working in Uruguay and described the new conditions tied to their BPS social-protection accounts as logical and legal.