Ambuvital ambulances in Extremadura operated without valid licenses

A fleet of 505 ambulances operated by the contractor Ambuvital in Extremadura, Spain, functioned without valid transport licenses from August 1 to September 4. This service is part of a public contract valued at over 285 million euros, the largest in the regional administration's history.

The lack of proper authorization meant patients were transported without clear insurance coverage, potentially exposing the public health service to significant liability in the event of an accident. Reports indicate that drivers used WhatsApp groups to coordinate and avoid Guardia Civil traffic controls to bypass inspections regarding their missing documentation.

The Junta de Extremadura has confirmed that a procedure to rehabilitate the licenses was initiated in August. While the contractor requested the necessary visas within the legal timeframe, the administrative rehabilitation was not finalized until September 4. The SES has opened a file regarding the concessionaire's compliance.