Despite the US blockade, Cuba continues defending health care, Cuban health minister affirms

Jose Angel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health (Minsap), said that despite the coercive measures of the blockade "that limits us, assaults us, conditions us to material shortages and then holds us responsible for its effects," Cuba will continue to defend health as a universal right, a legacy of hope and a commitment to life.

In the presence of Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, the head of the Minsap delivered the keynote address with which the V International Convention Cuba Health 2025 began on Monday at the Palace of Conventions.

Under the title Cuba and the One Health Paradigm: Science, Solidarity and Human Commitment in the Face of Global Commitments, Portal Miranda addressed the more than five thousand delegates and guests from 88 countries, including ministers and other high-ranking officials, participating in the event.

In his extensive speech, he stressed that this great event is dedicated to the main architect and promoter of the Cuban health system, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, who will celebrate the centenary of his birth in August 2026.

Cuba reaffirms in this scenario, he said, its unwavering commitment to health as a right of all human beings, and we will continue to develop our healthcare system, training professionals, sharing science and taking health wherever it is needed, despite the blockade, defamation and threats.
The head of the Minsap pointed out that unfortunately, in a world that is increasingly in need of globalizing solidarity, the example of Cuba is disturbing; our achievements bother those who promote a mercantilized and unsupportive model.

That, he said, is the key to the cruel discrediting campaign that the U.S. Government has been unleashing for years against our international medical cooperation, even going so far as to restrict visas to Cuban Government officials, as well as to any other person in the world who is an accomplice of our medical assistance programs abroad, as happened last February 25.

This action, he added, is not only an attack against our country and the work carried out by Cuban cooperants, but it also has international consequences, since it could condition medical assistance in several nations where our medical missions arrive, almost always providing services to unattended or insufficiently attended populations in the Global South.

Portal Miranda affirmed that these so-called slaves, as the U.S. Government insists on calling them, have been with millions of people in the most diverse scenarios, and they do so with the corresponding legal and contractual support, always following the principles of voluntariness; healing is their life vocation.

He clarified that Cuban cooperation in health matters responds to express requests from the countries and is always supported by collaboration agreements that sometimes include the participation of the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.

He said that many of the participants and foreign guests at this Convention can attest to his words, since they have witnessed not only the altruistic work of Cuban collaborators, but also the pressures and threats exerted on governments to cancel agreements with Cuba.

No slander will make us abandon that human vocation in any of the scenarios where we provide services; nor will the cruel policy of economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on us by the Government of the United States since 1962 prevent us from continuing our work throughout the world.

I take advantage of this space for common dialogue to express our deepest gratitude to the governments that, with courage and a sense of justice, have supported Cuban medical collaboration and have maintained the presence of our health brigades in their territories, despite the pressures and threats of the U.S. government.

He said that the coming days are of enormous importance, not only for our health systems, but also for the common destiny of humanity.

He stated that integrality, collaboration and sustainability are key to address, from the One Health paradigm, phenomena that put the survival of humanity at risk, such as the loss of biodiversity, poverty and food insecurity.

Also at the opening ceremony, Ileana Morales Suarez, director of Science and Technological Innovation of Minsap, pointed out that this event seeks to promote science, innovation and intersectoral collaboration as fundamental pillars to face the current challenges in the healthcare field.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Miguel Diaz-Canel cut the ribbon on an exhibition on the Cuban health system at the Havana Convention Palace.

He was accompanied by members of the Political Bureau Esteban Lazo, President of the National Assembly of People's Power; Manuel Marrero, Prime Minister, and Bruno Rodriguez, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Also on Monday, the head of government opened the 16th Health for All Trade Fair and the 2nd Medical Tourism and Wellness Fair at the Pabexpo site, after cutting the opening ribbon.