Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, Jun 18th. - José Angel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health of Cuba, ratified his country's willingness to actively contribute to BRICS countries in areas such as research and development of vaccines, confrontation with infectious diseases, and joint regulation of medical products.
Speaking on Tuesday at the group's 15th Meeting of Health Ministers (initially made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the Cuban incumbent stressed that the largest of the Antilles, with associate membership since October 2024, is incorporated with deep respect and commitment.
As reported today by the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (Minsap) on its website, Portal Miranda pointed out that BRICS represent an alternative for dialogue, collective action and sustainable development of the Global South.
In this regard, he proposed strengthening scientific exchange, promoting technological sovereignty, advancing digital governance and promoting the ethical application of Artificial Intelligence in the field of Health.
During his speech at the event, which took place in Brasilia, the Brazilian capital, the Cuban minister recalled that the development achieved by the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Industry of the Caribbean nation has made it possible to consolidate capacities for research, development, production and marketing that in many cases are present in several BRICS countries, thanks to the alliance that has been strengthened between the health, scientific and productive sectors.
He also said that the island maintains links of health cooperation with 17 members or partners, through interinstitutional agreements signed in several areas, which demonstrate our commitment to collaboration for mutual benefit.
As part of our international cooperation, he said, today more than 23,000 Cuban health professionals provide services in 56 nations.
The Cuban head said that his country is ready to continue building bridges to defend the sacred right of peoples to a healthy, full, dignified life.
He referred to the characteristics that distinguish the National Health System in Cuba, and stressed that it is public, free, universal, with a preventive focus and vision of "Una Sola Salud," whose development has allowed to achieve health indicators comparable to those of many developed countries, he said.
Portal Miranda meant the urgency of addressing health challenges from mechanisms of inclusive and supportive cooperation, ensuring resilient, effective and people-centred health systems, capable of ensuring universal health coverage and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Referring to the many lessons left by the pandemic caused by COVID-19, he stressed the need to strengthen science, innovation and cooperation as pillars of any sustainable health strategy.
By the way, he stressed how during those difficult years, thanks to the development of science that had been consolidated in Cuba for more than six decades, it was possible to address the pandemic with the development of vaccines themselves and ensuring the immunization of the population, despite economic constraints.
"What our nation has done confirms that, with political will, human commitment and a sense of justice, it is possible to make progress in the field of health, despite the significant current economic challenges, which are multiplying for Cuba due to the consequences of the inhumane economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States and the arbitrary inclusion in the list of nations that supposedly sponsor terrorism, the Cuban Minister of Public Health reflected.
The official delegation of the largest of the Antilles to the meeting was also composed of Mayda Mauri Pérez, president of BioCubaFarma; Dr. Néstor Marimón Torres, director of International Relations of the Ministry of Public Health; and Adolfo Curbelo Castellanos, Cuban ambassador to Brazil. (Text and photo: ACN)
