Ministry of Health has inaugurated the National Ambulance Service in the Greater Male' Region. The service was inaugurated by Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem during a ceremony held at Republic Square in Male' City.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Naseem highlighted the significance of the service in enhancing the overall health system in the Maldives. He also stressed its crucial role in safeguarding the health of citizens and preventing the recurrence of past incidents.
The health ministry has outlined that the service in the Greater Male' Region will be managed through a 24-hour call centre, fostering collaboration among healthcare facilities in the area. The designated hotline for the service is 100. Individuals can use the hotline to call for assistance in a medical emergency, prompting a quick response from a paramedic. The paramedic will reach the accident scene or the location of the patient to provide stabilisation before transporting them to the hospital. A pre-prepared medical team will also be on hand to treat the patient at the nearest hospital.
The ministry highlighted that the service commences in the Greater Male' Region, with future plans for expansion across the country. In addition, sea and air ambulance services that are used in the atolls will be integrated into the service.
The government temporarily provided a similar service through the Health Emergency Operation Centre for COVID-19 patients in 2020. As such, specially trained paramedic teams and call centre personnel from that period will now be equipped to provide the newly launched ambulance service.