Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem has said that buggy ambulances will be utilised in small islands next year.
The government has brought 96 paramedic ambulances through the State Trading Organisation (STO). However, some ambulances cannot be utilised properly due to the small size of the islands. Therefore, the government has identified such islands and ordered buggy ambulances to solve the issue.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Naseem said that due to a lack of road space, standard-size ambulances cannot be used efficiently in small islands. He revealed an order has been placed for 25 buggy ambulances from China to be delivered in the first quarter of next year.
The ambulance service is vital to every island, and some villages are facing many difficulties due to the deterioration of ambulances. The new ambulances have further expanded the service and provided a major solution to many of the challenges currently facing the provinces. With the arrival of ambulances in the atolls, emergency medical care will be easily provided to those injured in disasters and accidents. In addition to providing ambulances, the government is also making efforts to improve the quality of health services provided in hospitals and health centres in the atolls.