Govt gives up on hopeless ambulance service

Govt gives up on hopeless ambulance service
http://www.thesundaily.my/node/172629


Posted on 27 September 2006 - 01:12am Print KUALA LUMPUR: The government has given up on trying to correct the attitude of civil servants to provide satisfactory ambulance service at government hospitals.

"The attitude of drivers and lack of trained personnel have given us no choice but to to privatise the service," said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said a proposal on this was submitted to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) last June (2006) and the ministry was awaiting approval.
"The ambulance service has been a headache for the government. New vehicles are breaking down after only four years due to poor handling.
"Because of this, we feel it is better to rent the ambulances or pay to use the private ones available," he told reporters after launching a "Special Discounted Indemnity Insurance Scheme for Young Medical Doctors" here today (Sept 26, 2006).
Chua was replying to a question on public complaints on the "slow and inefficient" ambulance service.
To date, there is currently about 1,000 ambulances at government hospitals nationwide, with 800 more new ambulances to be bought under the NinthMalaysia Plan (9MP).
However, Chua cautioned that a large number of ambulances need not necessarily guarantee quality services.
"It's akin to being at a restaurant. The presence of many waiters does not mean that your food will arrive fast," he added.
At the function, Chua presented a cheque for RM10,000 from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) to the family of the late Dr Norbaizura Yahya.
Norbaizura, 24, who was attached with the Seremban Hospital, died two weeks ago after going into a 16-day coma following an accident involving an ambulance in Bangi last month.