IBIZA'S AMBULANCE SERVICE NEARING COLLAPSE: "TOO MANY CALLS FOR CLUB-GOERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE"

The local healthcare union is reporting an overwhelming workload, pointing fingers at the island's most popular clubs: "They should have private staff and resources; because of them, emergency services for island residents are deteriorating."

Ibiza's ambulance service is on the verge of collapse. The alarm has been raised by the local healthcare union, which reports an overwhelming number of emergency calls related to drug-induced illnesses at the island's clubs. "Up to a third of emergency calls come from nightclubs," they explain, emphasizing that many requests originate from the largest venues, some of which can host up to 10,000 people.

The union warns that these nightlife-related interventions are compromising the response to more serious emergencies, such as heart attacks or severe accidents, leading to delays that endanger residents. This creates an unbearable workload for healthcare workers. In June alone, over 2,300 hours of overtime were recorded. "We are physically and mentally exhausted," operators stated.

Private Ambulances Needed

The union president, José Manuel Maroto, criticized club owners, accusing them of offloading healthcare costs onto the public. "It's inconceivable that companies with millions of euros in annual revenue cannot provide this service, which is saturating public emergency services at the expense of the local population," he told elDiario.es. According to Maroto, clubs are required to hire nurses and healthcare staff but not to have a private ambulance.

"The cost falls on public services," he added, deeming it "unfair that the island's 161,000 residents receive a lower quality of service due to the demands of 3.6 million annual visitors."

Currently, only one major venue, DC-10, has chosen to equip itself with a private ambulance. All others rely on public resources, with a fleet comprising just three advanced life support ambulances and six basic ones. According to the union, these vehicles are "not even fit for work" due to frequent breakdowns, broken air conditioning units, and outdated equipment.

Ibiza's Club Culture and Parallel Drug Economy

Ibiza has been an icon of clubbing culture for over forty years. From its origins as a stop on the hippie trail in the 1970s, the island became a beacon for electronic music lovers in the 1980s. Amnesia and Pacha were pioneers, but today the landscape is dominated by dozens of luxury venues.

Drugs are an integral part of the island's underground economy. Drug seizures are frequent and often massive; in a single raid last year, over one million doses of MDMA were recovered. According to a study published in European Psychiatry, 58 drug-related deaths were recorded in Ibiza between 2010 and 2016. The most affected demographic? Young British individuals, who accounted for 36 percent of the victims.