José Ángel Portal Miranda is a Cuban doctor born in Cuba in 1968 who has served as 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 holds a Master's degree in Satisfactory Longevity.
He is also a Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power.
Before his role as Minister of Health, he served as the 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 hardest-hit sectors of the country due to the medication shortages that the island has been facing for years. This scarcity reached critical levels in the last year (2019-2020), impacting the distribution of medications for chronic patients and the elderly, who endure endless lines from early morning, without any guarantees, to obtain their medicines.
On the other hand, there is widespread public discontent with the management of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) headed by Portal, due to the significant deterioration of the Cuban Public Health System. The population constantly reports through social media the deplorable condition of hospitals, polyclinics, and health centers, as well as the numerous instances of medical negligence that have increased in recent years due to lack of resources and organization.
As Minister, Portal Miranda has also been responsible for managing the return of two Cuban doctors kidnapped on April 12, 2019, in Kenya, with no results yet.
