The Works Council of the Union of Healthcare Technicians (USAE) said Ibiza averages 15 to 16 ambulance emergency calls per day, with about five connected to clubs.
Ibiza’s public ambulance service has been left overwhelmed by emergency calls to clubs with workers at their “wits’ end”, the local union has said.
The Works Council of the Union of Healthcare Technicians (USAE) said the emergency healthcare system is at risk of “collapse” due to the disproportionate, “complicated” incidents at the White Isle’s clubs that require ambulatory response, elDiario.es reports. USAE said Ibiza averages 15 to 16 ambulance emergency calls per day, with about five connected to clubs.
With the opening of high-capacity “hyperclub” [UNVRS] cited, the union is urging clubs to hire private ambulance companies to relieve stress from the public services. 2024 data counts 3,667,320 tourists visited the island last year, while USAE estimates ambulance technicians worked about 2,400 hours of overtime in June alone.
“It’s inconceivable that companies that earn billions of euros a year can’t afford this service and overwhelm emergency services, depriving citizens of services,” USAE president José Manuel Maroto told elDiario.es [translated]. “Clubs are required to have a health service with nurses and even emergency technicians, but they are not required to contract an ambulance service, and this ends up being transferred to the public system. We all pay for ambulances from these companies that make billions. It’s unaffordable”.
DC-10 is the only club to have a contract with a private ambulance company, Maroto said.
Ibiza residents have been protesting overtourism for years, with officials implementing measures to crackdown on short-term rentals and increasing fines, as well as pointing to environmental protection as a reason to discourage music events. Diplo was recently fined €300,000 for hosting an illegal party at the Cala d’Hort viewpoint last year.
