Restrictions for medics in the Caribbean

HAVANA (AP):

A Cuban doctor says the Caribbean nation is eliminating long-standing restrictions on health-care professionals' overseas travel as part of a broader migration reform.

The doctor says hospital directors met Saturday with Health Minister Roberto Morales and were told of the new policy, effective January 14.

For many years, Cuban physicians have been limited in their ability to travel or had to undergo cumbersome bureaucratic procedures.

But now they are supposed to be treated "like any other citizen" when it comes to travelling abroad.

The doctor was not authorised to talk to foreign journalists and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity yesterday.