The Minister of Industries of Cuba, Eloy Álvarez Martínez, publicly acknowledged that the wheelchairs distributed by the State are insufficient to meet the demand of the elderly, sick individuals, and people with disabilities.
His statements were made at the meeting of the Government Commission on Demographic Dynamics chaired by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz from the Palace of the Revolution.
In 2025, 3,115 wheelchairs were delivered nationwide, and for 2026, the government plans to distribute only 2,000 units.
"We know that they are not enough," admitted Álvarez Martínez, who added that the government is working on raising and repairing existing chairs to compensate for the shortfall.
As a palliative measure, the minister announced the provision of additional technical aids: "This year, we will also start delivering 11,000 canes, 5,000 walkers, and 3,000 crutches, and this is planned to continue advancing through the health system itself."
Scarcity occurs in the context of the accelerated aging population in Cuba, the oldest country in Latin America.
At the end of 2024, 25.7% of the population was 60 years old or older, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). The most affected provinces are Villa Clara, with 29.1% of individuals over 60, and Havana, with 28.1%.
The demand for technical assistance is growing while state resources are contracting. The Family Attention System (SAF) went from serving 59,000 people in 2023 to 67,000 by mid-2025, with between 7 and 8 new requests daily in some municipalities.
The SAF administration itself acknowledged this month that caring for vulnerable individuals remains an unfinished task.
Due to the state's inability, organizations such as Hope Haven International Ministries, the Council of Churches, and the Cuban Association of Physically Handicapped Individuals (Aclifim) had to donate around 200 wheelchairs in Granma last February to address the shortage in the public system. Obtaining a wheelchair through government channels can take months or even years.
The government will allocate more than 2.173 billion pesos in 2026 to the demographic dynamics program, aimed at supporting nursing homes, senior centers, and daycare centers.
In February, the regime authorized the private sector to open residences for the elderly and disabled individuals, although analysts point out that this measure has limited impact given the magnitude of the problem.
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