José Ángel Portal Miranda is a Cuban physician born in Cuba in 1968 who has served as the Minister of Public Health since July 21, 2018. Portal Miranda is a First and Second Degree specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine, a Second Degree specialist in Health Organization and Administration, and a Master in Satisfying Longevity.
He is also a Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power.
Before his position as Minister of Health, he served as vice director and provincial director of Health in Pinar del Río (since 1996), national director of Hospital Services, and deputy minister of Medical and Social Assistance in the Ministry of Public Health. He is a member of the Central Committee of the PCC.
Portal Miranda leads one of the most impacted sectors in the country due to the persistent shortage of medications that the island has been facing for years. This scarcity reached critical levels in the last year (2019-2020), affecting the distribution of medicines to chronic patients and the elderly, who endure endless lines starting at dawn without any guarantees of obtaining their medications.
On the other hand, there is widespread public discontent with the management of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) led by Portal, due to the notable deterioration of the Cuban public health system. The population constantly reports the deplorable condition of hospitals, polyclinics, and health centers through social media, as well as the significant increase in medical negligence in recent years due to a lack of resources and organization.
As Minister, Portal Miranda has also been responsible for managing the return of two Cuban doctors who were kidnapped on April 12, 2019, in Kenya, with no results yet.
