Timor-Leste

Executive summary

Since its inception in 2003–2004 under the Non-Aligned Movement framework, Cuba's medical mission to Timor Leste has operated continuously for 23 years, transitioning from the Programa Integral de Salud to Asistencia Técnica Compensada in 2012, and remains active with 130 personnel in 2026. Personnel figures fluctuate significantly across official reports without independent verification, while brigade members were compelled to alter medical statistics. Documented labour violations include passport confiscation upon arrival, residential confinement, unpaid overtime exceeding eight hours, disregarded vacation clauses, and salary retention to deter desertion. Political indoctrination is also confirmed, including mandatory Party sessions and ideological evaluations. Doctors who healed others were themselves held captive by their own government. Behind every statistic lies a passport seized and a life controlled.

Mission data

Research profile