Need of integrated ambulance system urged for saving lives in Karachi

Speakers at the seminar highlight the urgent need for establishing a single and fully integrated system which connects all hospitals and ambulances together in order to make it easier for the citizens to get help in case of life-threatening emergencies.

They pointed out that emergencies are reported every two minutes in the city on a daily basis, hence it is crucial that these emergencies are catered by lifesaving ambulances specifically with facilities and necessary equipment to provide adequate medical attention on the spot. Besides, trained paramedics should be present in the ambulance service to provide the right kind of attention instant to prevent complications.

These observations were discussed at a seminar on Emergency Medical Services was organized by Aman Healthcare Services in collaboration with Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday. The seminar aimed at creating wider awareness in the media community of the critical importance of emergency medical services and the role Aman has played in this area for the past 10 years.

Aman Foundation’s CEO, Mujahid Khan, GM Khaqan Sikander and Aman Health’s CEO, Shazina Masud, KPC’s Treasurer Raja Kamran and KPC’s President Imtiaz Khan Faran addressed the media on operational and other aspects of emergency medical services, with a focus on the importance of life-saving ambulances in Karachi’s healthcare infrastructure.

The speakers also highlighted the recently signed agreements with the Government of Sindh and Patients Aid Foundation, based on which the ambulance service will become free-of-cost for all citizens and the fleet will gradually be expanded to 200 lifesaving ambulances under a public private framework to cater to the entire population of Karachi.

The speakers lauded the Government of Sindh for having taken a step in the right direction by announcing the ‘Sindh Emergency Medical Services’ project. A similar public-private partnership already exists with the provincial government, established in 2017, whereby the two collaborate to provide free-of-cost ambulance services in Thatta and Sujawal.

Aman Health’s CEO Shazina Masud said the need for expanding emergency medical services in the city, and across Pakistan is urgent. As per World Health Organization standards, there should be 1 life-saving ambulance per 100,000 people, and we are far behind meeting this. Karachi needs at least 200 life-saving ambulances to cater to emergencies, and we look forward to materializing the agreement with Government of Sindh soon.

The event also included a demonstration and on the spot basic training in lifesaving skills for the participants, keeping in mind that a medical emergency can happen anywhere and in anyone’s home, and knowing basic lifesaving skills can actually save precious lives while people are waiting for an ambulance to reach.

The Aman Foundation's flagship Aman Ambulance, with advanced life-saving equipment, has made over 1 million interventions to date. Lifesaving ambulances transport patients to hospitals while providing intensive emergency care en-route.

The service has a fleet of 60 ambulances with over 500 trained healthcare professionals and life-saving drugs and equipment on board. It provides emergency medical interventions with an average response of 10 minutes. The service operates through a Command and Control Centre powered with real-time tracking and a wireless communications network, all part of the internationally recognized Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS).