Brazil's President lauds Cuban doctors for 2 years of service

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff Tuesday thanked Cuban doctors for boosting healthcare services around the South American country.

The doctors have been working in Brazil for the past two years as part of a government-backed program called "Mas Medicos" or " More Doctors," which promotes healthcare in remote rural parts of the country and poor urban areas.

"I want to thank you and tell you that you brought Brazil-Cuba ties closer together. You are credited with a relationship that today is not localized, but spread throughout the nation," Rousseff said at a ceremony at the presidential Palace of Planalto in the capital Brasilia.

In two years, the program has taken 18,240 healthcare workers to some 5,570 towns and indigenous communities across Brazil, benefiting nearly 63 million people.

Cuban doctors comprised the majority of the foreign medical professionals who participated in the program.

"I feel obligated to note the participation of the Cuban doctors who, along with the Cuban government, showed their solidarity, professionalism and totally compassionate attention," said Rousseff.

The program met with initial resistance from some in the Brazilian medical community who wanted the Cuban doctors to have their credentials revalidated.

Some also complained that bringing in foreign doctors took work away from Brazilians, despite the fact that many of Brazil's healthcare workers were reluctant to work in poor inner city neighborhoods or far-flung communities.

"We will continue to defend doctors educated abroad in order to guarantee (medical) attention" for Brazil's underprivileged sectors, said Rousseff.

This year, according to Rousseff, all of the program's medical vacancies were filled by Brazilians, a development that "shows More Doctors has had a positive impact." Endite