Cuban government applauds "experiment" with new ambulances in Havana

The Cuban government has highlighted the experimental ambulance service project in Havana as "an important step," which aims to strengthen the response to medical emergencies in the capital. 

The initiative, promoted since January by the Ministries of Public Health and Transportation together with the Government of Havana, has allowed the addition of 15 new ambulances to the existing fleet in the city.

The Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, highlighted The importance of this project in the current context: "These 15 vehicles are added to those already operating in the capital, with the aim of improving service to the population. To the extent of our capabilities, work will be done to expand this model to other provinces of the country.

According to the governor, the service operates with ten ambulances during the day and five at night. Additionally, four of these vehicles are equipped with specialized technical equipment to provide intensive care, allowing for more effective response to more complex emergencies. The medical staff working in these units belong to the city's health system.

The company MCV Comercial S.A., responsible for vehicle maintenance and driver hiring, is the one that guarantees the stability of the service after two months of adjustments. "After the gradual implementation of the service, adjusting all the safeguards, its operation was stabilized," said Rodríguez Dávila.

Despite this initiative, some Cubans expressed the need to increase the number of available ambulances. "I still think that 15 is very few for the high demand in Havana. Why can't we have the ones we had before?" commented Miguel Albuerne Cortina on social media.

Others have requested that the project be extended to the entire country. "That project is good, Minister, what is needed is to make it extensive to all the provinces," said Yescenia Rodríguez, a resident of Pinar del Río.

Meanwhile, in provinces like Holguín the situation remains critical. "Here there is only one ambulance for the entire province and it is from Moa. But well, Havana has been Cuba for a while," said Juan Sol, reflecting the feelings of many citizens outside the capital.