The Cuban government has launched a fresh attack against Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez, a specialist in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine who has emerged as a prominent critic of Cuba's healthcare disaster. Operating from his exile in Colombia, Ruano Sánchez has actively participated in the humanitarian campaign for young Damir Ortiz Ramírez, whose plight captured international attention.
Recently, the Cuban Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine issued a statement accusing Ruano Sánchez of falsifying his professional resume and displaying inappropriate behavior during a Neurodevelopment event in Cali, Colombia, in 2008. They allege he fabricated his educational background, claiming to have studied in countries such as South Korea, England, and the United States, and attribute accomplishments and expertise to him that they assert he never possessed. Furthermore, they claim he has been barred from practicing medicine in Cuba since 2009.
In relation to the Damir case, the society accuses Ruano of utilizing his social media platforms to "lie, coerce, threaten, and defame Cuban doctors and institutions involved in the child's diagnosis and treatment." These allegations have surfaced as Ruano has gained prominence for his relentless criticism of the deteriorating conditions within Cuba's healthcare system.
In various public appearances and during his participation in "Las Mañanas de CiberCuba" in 2021, Ruano highlighted that the island's health crisis has worsened due to a lack of resources and the regime's incompetence. He pointed out the shortage of medications and intensive care unit beds, issues that were exacerbated during the COVID pandemic, resulting in thousands of avoidable deaths due to the lack of access to oxygen therapy.
He also emphasized that 70% of the Cuban population lives below the FAO-defined food poverty line, further deteriorating the population's health conditions. Instead of addressing these structural crises, the Cuban regime has chosen to tarnish the reputation of a doctor who, from exile, continues to expose the truth about the healthcare system.
While attempting to discredit those who reveal these shortcomings, Havana persists in exporting medical brigades as part of a lucrative propaganda initiative, ignoring the pressing need for healthcare professionals on the island. During the pandemic, Ruano Sánchez expressed his willingness to return to Cuba to assist in tackling the health crisis, but according to him, the regime has barred his entry due to "whim and stubbornness."
As the Cuban government insists on portraying its healthcare system as a model, testimonies from this and other doctors forced to emigrate lay bare the reality of a country that, far from being a medical powerhouse, faces an unprecedented collapse in its healthcare infrastructure. Dr. Ruano Sánchez's statements expose the Cuban regime's hypocrisy in persecuting its critical professionals instead of accepting their aid to resolve a crisis that has become untenable.
Insights into the Cuban Healthcare Dispute
What are the allegations against Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano?
The Cuban Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine accuses Dr. Ruano of falsifying his resume and engaging in inappropriate behavior at a 2008 event in Colombia, as well as using social media to defame Cuban medical professionals.
How has Dr. Ruano criticized Cuba's healthcare system?
Dr. Ruano has been outspoken about resource shortages, lack of intensive care beds, and the regime's incompetence, particularly during the COVID pandemic, which led to avoidable deaths.
What is Dr. Ruano's stance on returning to Cuba?
Despite his willingness to return to aid during the health crisis, Dr. Ruano claims the regime has prohibited his entry, attributing it to their arbitrary decisions.