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Jose Luis Garcia Paneque is one of 52 political prisoners that the Cuban government agreed to release earlier this year in a deal brokered by the Roman Catholic Church and Spain.

Cuba began to soften its stance after one jailed dissident, Orlando Zapata, died in February after an 86-day hunger strike.

His death provoked strong international criticism of the government's human rights record.

Jose had worked for many years as a plastic surgeon in the burns unit in the Las Tunas hospital.

He found himself in trouble with the authorities when he began writing articles attacking the standard of healthcare in Cuba - a country which has exported thousands of medical staff to other countries and regards its health service as a crowning success story.

He spoke to Lucy Ash from his new home in Valencia, Spain about his time in prison and trying to build a new life.

First broadcast 15 October 2010.