A major scandal has erupted in the Balearic Islands over the renewal of the ambulance fleet. The new vehicles, intended to improve medical services, have unexpectedly turned out to be illegal for most staff to drive. The reason: they exceed the weight limit allowed for standard category B driver’s licenses, which nearly all ambulance drivers hold.
Of the 246 vehicles purchased, 122 weigh over 4 tons. To drive them, a special category C1 license is required—something only a few employees possess. As a result, much of the new fleet is unusable, leaving patients without the urgent care they need.
Political parties Més per Mallorca and PSIB-PSOE have issued harsh demands, calling for the immediate resignation of the head of the ambulance service and the Minister of Health. They argue such a lapse in planning and procurement is unacceptable when lives are at stake and millions of euros are involved.
The situation is made worse by the authorities’ need to remove some equipment from the new vehicles to correct the mistake. This will reduce comfort and safety for patients and will add extra costs for refitting and storing the removed equipment. Moreover, it remains unclear who will drive the ambulances if staff cannot quickly be trained and licensed.
Union response and regional fallout
Healthcare unions have strongly condemned the actions of the management. They point out that the real needs and capabilities of staff were not taken into account during the contract negotiations. The problem is particularly acute in Ibiza and Formentera, where only a handful of drivers hold the required license category.
Authorities have promised to cover the cost of training and obtaining new driver’s licenses for employees, but this process will take time and require additional funding. In the meantime, some vehicles are being partially dismantled to reduce their weight, removing modern safety and ergonomic systems. This decision has sparked a wave of criticism—after all, the vehicles were initially purchased as some of the most advanced in Europe.
Financial and reputational losses
The total cost of updating the fleet amounted to nearly 56 million euros. Now, the regional government is forced not only to answer to the public but also to look for ways to minimize the damage. The question of who will be held responsible for the failed procurement remains unresolved. Politicians are demanding a transparent investigation and the publication of all contract documents.
While the authorities try to find a way out of the situation, patients and emergency service staff are forced to put up with temporary inconveniences and a decline in service quality. The scandal has already become one of the most talked-about topics in the Balearic Islands and will likely lead to personnel changes in the regional government.
