HAVANA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Returning to Cuba is an option for those Cuban medical workers who stay in Brazil despite an end to a medical cooperation program between the two South American countries, according to a statement issued Tuesday by Cuba's Health Ministry.
The Cuban government allows their return and will offer job opportunities, the statement said. "Above all are the human rights, dignity and safety of our doctors, including those who decided not to return at the end of their mission or have families in Brazil."
The Cuban medical personnel have been working in Brazil under the framework of the medical cooperation program "Mais Medicos." The Brazilian authorities last week announced the program will be canceled and the work opportunities won't be granted to those staying in Brazil.
The program was launched in 2013 based on an agreement signed by former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff with Cuba and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). It was intended to benefit the Brazilian people in areas with no access to medical services.
In November 2017, Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro questioned the qualifications of Cuban doctors and challenged Havana by calling them "slave labor" in disputing the way they are paid.
In response, Cuba withdrew all the over 8,400 medicals from the "Mais Medicos" program, saying Bolsonaro's statements were unacceptable.
More than 7,000 of the medical professionals have since returned to Cuba while the rest chose to stay in Brazil.
