A Cuban mother has taken to Instagram to express her frustration after being denied an ambulance for her son, who was in severe respiratory distress. The local clinic attributed the refusal to a lack of fuel, despite the boy's critical condition involving cerebral palsy, a tracheostomy, and the need for continuous oxygen due to color changes indicating respiratory failure.
"There is no fuel to take my child to the hospital. He needs to go with constant oxygen because he can't breathe properly, and his skin is changing color," said the mother, known on social media as NailaVlog, visibly distraught in her video message.
Forced to find private transportation, the mother was desperate and uncertain about potential costs. "I'm running around like crazy, trying to find a car, not knowing how much it will cost to get him there," she explained.
She expressed her resigned determination to face the situation alone: "I know I have to handle this by myself, like always. But I hope everything will turn out okay," she added.
Systemic Failures in Cuban Healthcare
This incident is not an isolated one. The Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) has admitted that Cuba's ambulance services meet less than 40% of emergency demands nationwide. As of June 2026, the province of Granma operated with only 17 of the 54 ambulances required.
In February, Minsap's head, José Ángel Portal Miranda, informed the National Assembly that the healthcare system was "on the brink of collapse," citing power outages up to 20 hours and ambulances running out of fuel.
Contradictions Fuel Public Outrage
The Cuban public is incensed by the contradiction where fuel is available for police patrols and political events but not for emergency services. In Santiago de Cuba, images captured police vehicles refueling without restrictions while residents waited in lines for days.
Comments on the mother’s video echoed public anger. "No fuel, but if you offer to pay, they'll find it," noted one user. Another bluntly stated, "If you shout freedom or criticize Díaz-Canel, they'll find fuel to come repress you."
The grim pattern of fatalities due to ambulance shortages continues. In April, Alexis Rosales Aldama died in Santiago de Cuba after a four-hour wait for an ambulance that never came. In May, a man in El Vedado passed away, and the ambulance arrived only to cover the body with a sheet, leaving without taking it.
International Attention and Sanctions
In May, the United Nations confirmed that limited fuel supplies were hindering ambulance operations and healthcare access across the island, describing the situation as "deeply concerning."
On June 11, the United States imposed sanctions on the state-run Cupet, accusing the Cuban government of diverting fuel for private jets used by the Castro family, buses for political events, repression activities, and tourist hotels.
FAQs on Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
Why was the ambulance denied?
The ambulance was denied due to a claimed shortage of fuel, despite the child's critical condition requiring immediate medical attention.
How does the fuel shortage affect Cuban healthcare?
The fuel shortage severely limits ambulance operations, preventing timely access to emergency medical care and contributing to preventable fatalities.
What actions has the international community taken?
The United Nations has highlighted the issue as deeply concerning, and the United States has sanctioned Cuban entities for mismanaging fuel resources.