An elderly woman in apparent critical condition was moved through the emergency area of the Amalia Simoni Hospital in Camagüey, seated in a regular chair and dragged by two individuals, due to the absence of wheelchairs at the facility.
This scene, captured on video and shared on Facebook by independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, highlights yet another instance of the Cuban hospital system's deterioration.
The footage reveals an older woman, wearing a house robe and slippers, being supported by at least two people who, based on their attire, appear to be her relatives rather than hospital staff.
The video garnered over 41,000 views, indicating the profound effect it had on Cubans both domestically and abroad.
Historic Failures of Amalia Simoni Hospital
The Amalia Simoni Hospital — the main clinical-surgical center in the province — has a history of complaints that have worsened in recent years: from floods and power outages to a generator fire in September 2025 that necessitated the evacuation of critical patients, as well as ceiling collapses in operating rooms in November of the same year, and another generator fire that forced the transfer of newborns to the Pediatric Hospital in July 2026.
A System on the Brink
The most severe incident occurred on August 20th when Tan Estrada reported the neglect of patients in the hospital's A ward: elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and psychiatric patients left nearly naked, malnourished, and covered in filth, without hygiene or food. "No one bathes them. No one cleans them. No one feeds them. They are malnourished, covered in flies, just lying there," the journalist lamented. Tragically, one of these patients died just a day after the report surfaced.
Nationwide Wheelchair Shortage
The lack of wheelchairs is pervasive across Cuba's national health system. In March, Industry Minister Eloy Álvarez Martínez acknowledged that the wheelchairs distributed by the state "are not enough": in 2025, only 3,115 were delivered nationwide, with just 2,000 planned for 2026. National production had been halted for two years before resuming in July 2025.
Similar situations have been documented in other Cuban hospitals. Last November, a video emerged of a patient being transported in a chair due to the absence of stretchers at the Lenin Hospital in Holguín; and in April of this year, another patient was brought down in a wheelchair using the stairs at the General Hospital of Cárdenas because the elevator had been out of service for an extended period.
The Public Health Minister, José Ángel Portal Miranda, stated in February that the Cuban health system was "on the verge of collapse," citing fuel shortages for ambulances and power outages impacting crucial equipment like ventilators and incubators.
Critical Issues in Cuba's Health System
What challenges are faced by the Amalia Simoni Hospital?
The hospital has faced severe issues including power outages, flooding, generator fires, and structural failures, leading to the evacuation of critical patients.
How widespread is the lack of wheelchairs in Cuba?
The shortage of wheelchairs is a national issue, with insufficient distribution by the state and production only recently resumed after a two-year halt.
What did the Public Health Minister say about the state of the health system?
Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda declared that the health system is "on the verge of collapse," citing issues like ambulance fuel shortages and power outages affecting critical medical equipment.