HAVANA — A Cuban doctor says the Caribbean nation is eliminating longstanding restrictions on healthcare professionals' overseas travel as part of a broader migration reform.

The doctor says hospital directors met recently with Health Minister Roberto Morales and were told of the new policy, effective Jan. 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 traveling abroad.

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