Alessandro Di Battista, former deputy of Italy's Five Star Movement, will leave Cuba on Friday, September 4, 2026, aboard an air ambulance, after being hospitalized in Havana since late August due to a serious health issue.
The politician himself confirmed this Wednesday that his return to Italy will be covered by the private travel insurance he purchased before arriving on the island, a clarification that clears up doubts raised in Italy about who would bear the cost of the expensive medical transfer, reported Il Fatto Quotidiano.
"Today I feel better. It has been a difficult few days, but at the same time, I am optimistic and always try to see the positive side of everything," Di Battista wrote from the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, where he remains hospitalized.
The former deputy suffered a severe headache on August 28 while in Santa Clara and subsequently lost consciousness for several hours. He was initially treated at a hospital in that city and later transferred to Havana for specialized tests.
Di Battista arrived in Cuba on August 22 to produce reports for the newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano and the platform TvLoft.
In his message, he also thanked the Cuban healthcare personnel. "I am grateful to the Cuban doctors who, as confirmed by the Italian doctors, were very good and timely in their diagnosis and in choosing the initial treatment," he stated.
To determine if he is fit to travel, two specialists from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome traveled to Havana and are working alongside the team that is caring for him at the Ameijeiras.
So far, no official diagnosis has been publicly disclosed. Some Italian media have mentioned the possibility of a stroke, but that hypothesis has not been confirmed by the doctors, the family, or Di Battista himself.
The private insurance will cover the air ambulance
The transfer raised questions in Italy about who would bear the costs of the former deputy's repatriation. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani clarified that the trip would not be covered by the Italian state.
"During the summer season, from June 1 to August 31, we assisted many Italians who were in distress. We repatriated 25 individuals who were facing health issues in our country. We treated everyone equally, politicians and non-politicians alike," stated Tajani.
In this case, it will be Di Battista's private policy that covers the expenses of the air ambulance.
If any additional costs arise that are not covered by insurance, the Schierarsi association, founded by Di Battista and presided over by Luca Di Giuseppe, would be prepared to organize a fundraising campaign.
Di Giuseppe also urged caution regarding the information about the politician's health: "We ask for caution in distributing information. Official updates will be provided directly by Alessandro and his family."
The case of Di Battista has coincided with a renewed debate in Italy about the conditions of the Cuban healthcare system. The Italian infectious disease specialist Matteo Bassetti stated on August 31 that the system is going through a "profound crisis", marked by shortages of medications, medical supplies, anesthetics, oxygen, and energy resources.
Months earlier, in February 2026, the Cuban Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, had acknowledged to Associated Press that the healthcare system was "on the brink of collapse".
Di Battista's partner, Sahra Lahouasnia, the mother of their two children, traveled to Havana to be with him during his hospitalization and in the days leading up to his return to Italy.
Related videos:
Filed under: