MoH eyes ten ambulance centers this year
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 19: Assistant Undersecretary for Allied Medical Services Affairs at the Ministry of Health Dr. Abdullah AlFaras announced that the ministry will launch ten ambulance centers this year, which will bring the total number of ambulance centers and ambulances in the country to 86 centers and 200 ambulances respectively.
In a speech delivered during the launch of the conference titled “Emergency Medical Services... Current Reality and Future Aspirations” on behalf of the conference sponsor Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad AlAwadhi, Dr. Al-Faras affirmed the keenness of the ministry to support the medical emergency system by refining the skills of technical and medical personnel and the services provided to the public.
He indicated that 100 new ambulances were received this year, keeping pace with the latest global technological developments, which includes the latest developments in automatic linking technology that comes in the context of this support.
Dr. Al-Faras said the ministry pays special attention to this vital and important specialty, stressing its keenness to support and develop emergency medical services and launch a new fleet of ambulances, through the government’s 100-day work program.
He explained that the annual medical emergency conference includes 40 scientific papers, ten sessions and three workshops on emergency medical services with regard to air or sea ambulance services and how to deal with disasters and crises, either through preparedness or tracking and reviewing models for dealing with major accidents.
The conference embodies the ministry’s keenness and constant commitment to keep pace with the latest technologies and scientific developments related to medical emergencies, sharing experiences and exchanging future visions, and enhancing scientific and professional cooperation between specialists in this field.
It emulates the conference’s slogan by emphasizing quality and accreditation, crisis management, sustainability of training, preparedness for disasters and emergencies of all kinds, and keeping pace with new technologies, equipment, and ambulances.
Dr. Al-Faras affirmed that the ministry will not be stingy in supporting medical emergency personnel to make their profession attractive, highlighting their role in the relief bridge for the people of Gaza and their soon-awaited mission to accompany and receive the wounded in Gaza.
In addition, the Chairman of the conference and the Director of the Medical Emergency Department Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti explained that the total number of urgent reports in the year 2023 reached 126,000. The total number of cases transported by ambulances was 128,000, and the response rate was ten minutes. He expressed his optimism that the new ambulances will contribute to reducing this time.
Dr. Al-Shatti revealed that the number of road accident victims transported by ambulances was 8,757 cases, while 808 victims were transported by air ambulance, 91 were evacuated to and from Kuwait, and 6,662 cases of coverage of various events, adding that the number of mock exercises held increased from nine in 2021 to 92, which is equivalent to seven times.
He said that the conference has a special status, because it comes ten years after the organization of the last medical emergency conference, in addition to the fact that it coincides with the country’s celebrations of national holidays, and with the Kuwait Ambulance Day that falls on February 20 this year.