Poor communities in the US don't have the doctors they need. And many students who would practise in those areas can't get into medical school or can't afford to go there. Cuba has stepped up to help.
The Baltimore Sun reports that Cuba is now training doctors for the US free of charge. http://www.baltimoresun.com/...
In 2000, a group from the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus visited Castro and learned about the medical school. Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi described poor areas in his district with no doctors. Castro offered to open his scholarship program to as many as 500 American students. The first group entered in 2001. Cuba's political leanings didn't concern him, Thompson said, but the lack of doctors back home did.
"I tend to make up my own mind as to who my friends and enemies are," Thompson said in a phone interview. "And in this instance we have a dire shortage of doctors in certain areas."
Cuban officials don't discuss how much the program costs. They describe it as a broader humanitarian mission to give back to poverty-stricken areas of the world.
Students from other countries who want to attend Cuba's medical school must have a high school diploma and must have taken science courses such as chemistry, biochemistry and biology. Once accepted, they study medicine for six years - two at the main campus and the remaining years at one of 21 medical schools throughout Cuba. They must agree to return home with their degrees and practice in underserved areas.
Three cheers for Cuba. Sure, Castro may enjoy sticking to the US, but, hey, we deserve it and we're benefiting from his move. Maybe this will help get US politicians to take some action. If not, at least some poor US communities will get some desperately needed doctors.