Botswana

Executive summary

Botswana is one of the countries with Cuba's longest-standing medical presence, dating back to 1988 and formalised through a governmental agreement in 1989. Since 2003 the mission operates under the Comprehensive Health Programme model, later shifting to Compensated Medical Services. Under the latest agreement signed on 22 August 2024, Cuba charges 3,500 dollars a month per doctor, while Cuban specialist doctors receive only 1,000 dollars — meaning Cuba withholds 71% of the contracted salaries, with the full connivance of the Botswana government. As of 11 April 2025 the Cuban Medical Brigade (CMB) had 90 active specialists across 9 districts. On 3 July 2026, Mission Head Dr. Pablo Ricardo Betancourt Álvarez issued a Resolution with nine restrictive control measures: limited movement outside districts, curfews, prohibition of private vehicles, overnight bans outside official residences, and prohibition on visiting Cuban non-Brigade residents. More than 5 testimonies collected by Prisoners Defenders document surveillance (84%), forced enrolment (83%), threats and violence (80%), and an average take-home pay of $662. Between June and August 2026, around 40 doctors completed their mission and returned to Cuba and at least 8 defected; the Duma Boko government decided not to replace them, reducing the brigade to 45 active doctors.

Mission data

Research profile