Hundreds of Cuban Doctors Defecting to U.S.



(Caracas, Venezuela) Doctors are reportedly defecting in droves from the socialized medical utopia of Cuba.

Around 500 Cuban doctors have defected to the United States while serving on aid missions in Venezuela, according to members of Cuban exile groups in Miami.

The latest case occurred on Wednesday when seven Cuban physicians managed to leave Caracas’ Maiquetia International Airport, after being held there for several hours and after paying hundreds of dollars each to officials.

“The Venezuelan and Cuban officials at Maiquetia systematically subject the doctors who want to leave to psychological pressure until finally they pay bribes,” Cuban doctor Keiler Moreno, who left Caracas five months ago, told Efe.

The bribes can range from $300 to as much as $2,000.

I haven't seen any reaction from Castro's Cuba or Chavez's Venezuela. It would seem logical for the Cubans to be somewhat angry at Hugo Chavez for apparently allowing the defections to occur.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Michael Moore hasn't remarked on the situation where doctors appear to disagree with his assessment that Cuba's health care system is superior to that in the U.S. Imagine that.

Companion post at SocGlory.