The recent decision by Jamaica to terminate its long-standing medical agreement with Cuba has resulted in significant healthcare gaps for residents, especially the poor. Novlyn Ebanks, a 73-year-old patient, now faces the burden of seeking costly private medical care after the departure of Cuban doctors who staffed key medical facilities. This change is part of a broader trend in Latin America and the Caribbean, where nearly a dozen countries have succumbed to US pressure to end similar medical collaborations with Cuba, which the US claims involve forced labor. However, Cuba refutes these allegations, arguing that the US is using them as a pretext to undermine the Cuban economy and push for regime change. Experts warn that the sudden withdrawal of healthcare providers will severely impact underserved communities, particularly in rural areas, leaving them without essential medical services. The Cuban medical program, which has dispatched over 600,000 health professionals globally since 1960, has been a critical source of revenue for Cuba and a lifeline for many in need. As countries like Guatemala also plan to withdraw Cuban doctors, local NGOs are preparing to fill the healthcare void, but the challenge remains significant. Jamaica's health minister has acknowledged the difficulties in replacing the specialized care previously provided by Cuban doctors, emphasizing the need for the country to develop its domestic medical workforce.