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The Minister of Transport of Cuba, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, announced the arrival in the country of 50 new ambulances purchased by the Ministry of Public Health as part of a program to enhance emergency medical services.
In a post on his profile, Rodríguez Dávila reported that the ambulances have arrived on the island and that "they will be put into service over the coming days, once the startup work being carried out by specialists and technicians from the provider, MCV Comercial S.A., for our transport system is completed."
The minister explained that these are “modern vehicles that meet international standards for this type of service, equipped with basic features and facilities for the installation of other diagnostic and resuscitation equipment.”
According to the head of MITRANS, the ambulances "have adequate autonomy, are energy-efficient, and are supported by a maintenance service that ensures their operation."
The vehicles are from the Foton brand, a Chinese company that is part of the automotive group BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co.), one of the largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles in China.
Rodríguez Dávila added that, "with the integration of these medical transport means into the national emergency system, although it would not fully meet the demand, it would be a further step in benefiting the health of our people in the current complex situation."
The acquisition occurs after years in which most of the ambulances integrated into the Cuban healthcare system came from foreign donations. Last December, Russia donated three modern ambulances intended for Havana, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba, as part of the bilateral cooperation.
The shortage of medical vehicles has been one of the main complaints from healthcare staff and the public. In November 2025, CiberCuba reported that due to the transportation crisis, ETECSA vehicles were being used as makeshift ambulances and hearses.
In recent years, numerous Cubans have reported long delays in the arrival of ambulances, as well as accidents and mechanical failures in the vehicles that are still in service. The current purchase represents one of the few known state acquisitions for this purpose, in contrast to the frequent purchases of buses and cars for tourism and other state entities.
So far, the authorities have not specified the investment amount or the geographic distribution of the new ambulances.
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