Coronavirus: US criticises South Africa for accepting Cuban doctors

“We applaud leaders in Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and other countries, which have refused to turn a blind eye to these abuses by the Cuban regime, and ask all countries to do the same, including places like South Africa and Qatar,” he said.

“Governments accepting Cuban doctors must pay them directly. Otherwise, when they pay the regime, they are helping the Cuban government turn a profit on human trafficking.”

South Africa, which like Qatar has friendly relations with the United States, on Monday announced that 217 Cuban doctors had arrived in the country, which has the highest number of coronavirus infections in Africa.

Cuba has sent doctors to more than a dozen countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, including hard-hit Italy.

France has also authorised Cuban teams to help in its overseas territories.

Cuba has made healthcare a societal pillar, despite the poverty of the island, which has been subject to US sanctions for six decades.