José Ángel Portal Miranda is a Cuban doctor born in Cuba in 1968 who has served as the Minister of Public Health since July 21, 2018. Portal Miranda is a specialist with First and Second Degrees in Comprehensive General Medicine, a Second Degree Specialist in Health Organization and Administration, and a Master's degree in Satisfactory Longevity.
He is also a Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power.
Before his position as Minister of Health, he served as deputy 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 at the Ministry of Public Health. He is a member of the Central Committee of the PCC.
Portal Miranda oversees one of the most affected sectors in the country due to the long-standing shortages of medications that the island has been facing for years. In the last year (2019-2020), this scarcity has reached critical levels, impacting the distribution of medications for chronic patients and the elderly, who endure endless lines from dawn without any assurances of obtaining their medicines.
On the other hand, there is significant 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 continually reports through social media the deplorable condition of hospitals, polyclinics, and health centers, as well as the increase in medical negligence over the past few years due to a lack of resources and organization.
As Minister, Portal Miranda has also been tasked with managing the return of two Cuban doctors who were kidnapped on April 12, 2019, in Kenya, with no results so far.
