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A Cuban family man passed away on Monday in Santiago de Cuba after waiting more than four hours for an ambulance that did not arrive in time, according to a public complaint from his wife.
The deceased, named Alexis Rosales Aldama, had been in critical condition since 6:00 PM at the Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital. The ambulance did not arrive until around 10:00 PM, by which time it was already too late.
The complaint was shared on Facebook by the independent communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
According to the testimony of his wife, Nelsy Betancourt Tamayo, hospital staff claimed that the ambulance could not depart until it had four patients—when the usual number is three—due to fuel issues.
Desperate, the family contacted the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIUM). The response they received was that "an ambulance does not save lives."
They also tried to contact provincial authorities of the government of Santiago de Cuba. No one responded.
"He lost his life for not arriving a minute earlier and receiving the attention he needed," Nelsy emphasized.
A pattern of deaths due to lack of timely medical care
This case is not isolated. In January, also in Santiago de Cuba, Yordanis Beltrán Beltrán, a 42-year-old former police officer, died under similar circumstances, without receiving timely medical attention.
The list of tragedies extends over time: in June 2024, a 34-year-old man, and in September 2022, Yumila González passed away, both cases linked to alleged medical negligence in the same province.
Structural crisis of the Cuban healthcare system
The collapse of emergency transportation reflects a deeper crisis. Cuba added only 25 electric ambulances in February 2026 for the entire country, a number insufficient given the magnitude of the problem.
The Minister of Public Health of Cuba, José Ángel Portal, admitted that the Cuban healthcare system is on the brink of collapse and that the crisis "could put lives at risk."
The situation was described by the Director-General of the World Health Organization as "deeply concerning".
The shortage of fuel and equipment is compounded by the deterioration of human capital: the salaries of healthcare personnel are around 16 dollars per month, which has led to a massive exodus of health professionals across the Island.
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