Fifteen new ambulances have been added to the service in Havana

A total of 15 new ambulances have been added to the health system in Havana under an operational model aimed at improving service efficiency, while another 50 units are expected to arrive to enhance coverage throughout the country.

This was confirmed through their official page by the Provincial Government in Havana, citing a post on Facebook from the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila.

During the most recent session of the National Assembly of People's Power, progress was reported in the oversight of the Ministry of Transport, focusing on ambulance services, which are considered a priority for medical care in Cuba.

As part of a national program, the aim is to expand and modernize the healthcare transportation system. Although it “has demonstrated positive results in efficiency and coverage,” authorities acknowledge that not all the country’s needs in this sector have been met yet.

This project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap), the Ministry of Transport (Mitrans), the entity MCV Comercial S.A., and the Government of Havana, under the management of the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIUM).

The ambulances, completely new, are equipped with advanced technology, including a GPS control system, which will allow for a more efficient and secure management of medical transfers.

According to the report, the responsibility for ensuring the availability of vehicles and trained drivers will fall on Mitrans, while Minsap will be in charge of providing medical personnel and the necessary equipment to deliver quality care.

In addition, the joint company MCV Comercial S.A. will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ambulances, ensuring their proper functioning during emergency transports.

This initiative also includes the hiring of the transport service, aimed at optimizing the response capacity of the health system in the capital.

The ambulance project comes after several years in which thousands of Cubans have suffered from a shortage of ambulances, and many patients have lost their lives waiting for this service.

In April 2024, the Cuban government signed a contract with MCV Comercial S.A. – the authorized distributor of Mercedes Benz in Cuba – for the "experimental deployment" of the 15 ambulances in the public health system.

In June of last year, an elderly man passed away after being hit by a bus from the company Transgaviota in the Havana municipality of Playa, without receiving timely medical attention, as more than 45 minutes passed before an ambulance arrived at the scene, during which the man, apparently initially showing vital signs, lost his life.

In April, an ambulance ended up partially embedded in the wall of a dilapidated building in the city of Cienfuegos.

The incident has been added to a troubling list of similar incidents in recent months in Cuba. In January of this year, an ambulance was involved in an accident in Matanzas due to causes that remain unclear. In February, another vehicle from the health system collided with a taxi in Cárdenas.

Other recent cases include ambulances wrecked in collisions with trucks, tourist vehicles, and even a horse-drawn cart. These situations reflect a growing pattern of risk that affects both medical personnel and patients.

Most of these vehicles show clear signs of deterioration, lack of maintenance, and age, which increases the likelihood of accidents, especially in a context where Cuban road infrastructure is also in crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions about the new ambulance project in Havana