Although Americans do travel for medical treatment to Cuba, they do so illegally. But Cuba is building on the medical tourism trade it gets from Canada, Latin America and Caribbean Islands. Cuba treatment costs are a third to a quarter of those in the United States, according to Latin American doctors and patients.

Last year, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, which do not have diplomatic relations, agreed to allow weekly charter flights between the two countries, and since then at least 150 Dominicans have flown to Cuba for medical treatment, according to travel agents.

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