The ongoing energy crisis and fuel scarcity in Cuba are severely disrupting the admission cycles for patients with multiple sclerosis at the Doctor Faustino Pérez Hernández Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital in Sancti Spíritus. This facility, the only national reference center for the disease outside Havana, is facing significant challenges, as reported by its director to the Escambray newspaper on Friday.
Dr. Greidys Montano Águila, who directs the hospital, pointed out that the lack of fuel hampers the transportation of patients from various provinces to the facility. Additionally, the absence of electricity during nighttime hours compromises the extended stays required by treatment protocols.
According to these protocols, the initial admission for a multiple sclerosis patient lasts six weeks, while subsequent readmissions are four weeks long and are determined on a case-by-case basis by a multidisciplinary team.
Operating since 2003 in collaboration with the International Center for Neurological Restoration in Havana, the program has served over 300 Cubans throughout its 23-year history.
The Broader Impact of Energy Shortages
The hospital's struggles are part of a broader deterioration in Cuba's healthcare system during 2026. Sancti Spíritus has experienced power outages lasting up to 50 consecutive hours, with power generation deficits reaching 92 MW at the provincial level. The collapse of interprovincial transportation further hinders patients from other regions attempting to reach the hospital.
Dr. José Alberto Luna, an advisor for Rehabilitation Services at the General Health Directorate, noted that the shortages also cause a lack of replacement parts for ultrasound heads and hydrotherapy equipment filters, which are manufactured by foreign companies that Cuba cannot easily access.
Despite these obstacles, Luna commended the Provincial Center for Clinical Engineering and Electromedicine in Sancti Spíritus, where technicians are diligently working to find viable solutions to prevent treatment disruptions due to outdated equipment.
Widespread Healthcare Challenges
The pattern of hospitals suffering from power outages is seen throughout the island. In October, intensive care patients from the Cárdenas Hospital were relocated due to an electrical failure, and in Holguín, nurses had to manually ventilate newborns with resuscitators during power cuts.
Milvia Consuegra Álvarez, a psychologist in charge of Teaching and Research at the hospital, emphasized the program's significance for its recipients: "Many arrive with walking difficulties, but upon leaving, they feel improved and no longer need walkers."
Consuegra highlighted that the treatment addresses not only cognitive aspects but also motor skills, gait, balance, quality of life, and self-esteem, involving physiatrists, neurologists, nutritionists, speech therapists, psychologists, podiatrists, and both physical and occupational therapists.
"The continuity of such a project, which champions rehabilitative treatment for these patients and has achieved encouraging results over more than two decades, is crucial," Dr. Montano Águila concluded.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, degenerative, and autoimmune inflammatory disease that damages the central nervous system and is the leading cause of neurological disability in young adults. As of December 2025, Cuba had 1,235 registered patients with this diagnosis, with higher prevalence in the central provinces.
Understanding the Impact of Cuba's Energy Crisis on Healthcare
How is the energy crisis affecting healthcare for multiple sclerosis patients in Sancti Spíritus?
The energy crisis and fuel shortages in Cuba are disrupting the admission and treatment schedules for multiple sclerosis patients, as electricity outages and transportation issues make it difficult for patients to access necessary care at the Doctor Faustino Pérez Hernández Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital.
What measures are being taken to address equipment shortages in Cuban hospitals?
Technicians at the Provincial Center for Clinical Engineering and Electromedicine in Sancti Spíritus are actively seeking viable solutions to ensure treatments continue despite equipment obsolescence, focusing on maintaining essential medical services.
What are the treatment protocols for multiple sclerosis patients in Cuba?
For multiple sclerosis patients, the initial hospital admission lasts six weeks, with subsequent readmissions being four weeks. These are personalized based on the patient's needs and coordinated by a multidisciplinary medical team.