Cárdenas Hospital Faces Power Outage: Critical Patients Transferred to Matanzas

The Julio M. Aristegui Villamil Hospital in Cárdenas, located in Matanzas province, is grappling with a power outage that has necessitated the transfer of critical care patients to the Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital in the province's capital. This move, confirmed by health authorities on Tuesday, aims to ensure uninterrupted medical care.

The issue was first highlighted on Facebook by activist Christian Arbolaez, who reported the hospital had been without electricity since early hours, warning that the backup generator might cease to operate by 7:00 p.m.

Arbolaez noted that more than seven ambulances had arrived at the hospital to facilitate patient transfers, with the emergency room reportedly filled to capacity. He blamed the power disruption on a fallen electrical phase, suggesting repairs could take up to a week, though official confirmation from authorities remains pending.

The General Health Directorate of Matanzas later validated the power failure and patient relocation in a statement published by the provincial newspaper Girón. They explained that disconnecting the hospital's power supply was necessary to undertake essential technical repairs, prompting the decision to move intensive care patients to the Faustino Pérez Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital.

The health authorities emphasized the priority of maintaining continuous medical attention during the repair work to prevent compromised care for critically ill patients. They assured the public that the Faustino Pérez Hospital is equipped with the necessary medical resources, logistics, and personnel to accommodate the incoming patients.

Additionally, the hospital has established an emergency room and made pediatric and adult emergency services available, with teams ready to address the population's needs. A multidisciplinary team is organized to manage the transferred patients and coordinate their care across the province’s healthcare facilities.

Nevertheless, the official statement did not reveal the number of patients involved in the transfer, the duration of the power outage, or when repairs are expected to conclude.

To assist patients and families, authorities provided two contact numbers for information: the Provincial SIUM Coordination Center at 45 253910 and the Faustino Pérez Hospital Management Post at 45 253937.

The situation poses a significant risk for intensive care patients who rely on equipment like mechanical ventilators and monitors that require a constant power supply. "An alarming situation in a hospital where electricity is crucial to saving lives!" Arbolaez exclaimed while reporting the incident.

The Julio M. Aristegui Villamil Hospital has previously encountered a similar crisis. In March 2025, during a massive power outage in Cuba, critically ill patients had to be relocated from this hospital to others in Matanzas due to a lack of backup power generation. At that time, according to the Girón newspaper, two patients needing mechanical ventilation, three pregnant women, and six children with respiratory issues were transferred to the Faustino Pérez Commander Hospital and the Provincial Pediatric Hospital, where power supply areas were available.

Electrical supply issues are not confined to this hospital alone, as patient evacuations have occurred in other healthcare facilities across the country. In April of this year, a blackout at the Saturnino Lora Hospital in Santiago de Cuba's Intensive and Intermediate Care Units necessitated the evacuation of 12 patients. The hospital's management confirmed that a voltage overload on the affected areas' circuits caused the main connection to overheat, leading to a temporary power cut.

Cárdenas's healthcare system challenges extend beyond electrical issues. In August, Arbolaez revealed that a Santa Marta clinic lacked the equipment to measure a man's blood glucose found unconscious, compelling his companions to find a glucometer independently.