Cuba and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia discuss the implementation of modalities of cooperation in public health, diplomatic sources announced here today, after the signature of a collaboration agreement.

The Health Ministries of the Caribbean island and the Arab Kingdom sealed a pact yesterday that allows the presence of highly qualified Cuban healthcare professionals in two of the most prestigious medical centers in this country, the King Saud Medical City and Prince Salman Hospital.

During the signing ceremony of the instruments, Cuban ambassador Enrique Enriquez ratified his country's decision to "boost ties between the two nations, and contribute to the development of government programs designed to improve and expand health services" in Saudi Arabia.

The agreement regulates the temporary contracting mechanism of Cuban physicians, as part of the Visiting Physician Program, designed by the government of the Saudi Kingdom to provide the main health centers in the country with highly qualified specialists.

The signing ceremony was chaired by Deputy Health Minister Dr. Mohammed Hamzah Khoshaim, who highlighted the importance of the agreement for strengthening bilateral cooperation and recognized the prestige of the structured health system in Cuba as a State policy since the triumph of the Revolution in January 1959.

Despite the existing financial difficulties due to the U.S. blockade for more than 50 years, the Caribbean island's medical care is free, from birth to geriatric care, passing through the more complex surgeries.