Lisbon, August 21 (RHC) -— Cuban Ambassador to Portugal Johana Tablada has strongly rejected critical statements against the Cuban medical cooperation in that country by the president of the Bastonario da Ordem dos Medicos, or Portuguese Medical Association, Jose Manuel Silva -- describing the statements as disrespectful and irrational.

In a press release sent to the Portuguese news agency, the diplomat said that the medical cooperation is a very positive experience that has offered one million 316,225 medical consultations in the European nation since 2009.

In 2014 alone, the Cuban doctors have given highly qualified assistance to more than 131,000 patients, said the ambassador, noting that Cuba has nothing to hide –- pointing out that part of the doctor's salary goes to the island's health care system.

The diplomat said that the accusation that these funds go to the hands of the “Cuban regime” is a groundless, ignorant, anti-Cuba position, as well as an act of political demagogy.

The ambassador said that Cuba has similar medical service accords with over 60 countries of the world, including Portugal, and she expressed her strong rejection of the statements by the Portuguese official by describing them as irrational and inconsistent to the truth, and foreign to the real state of bilateral relations between the two medical institutions.