Update:
The Government of Sindh has issued a cheque of PKR 179 million to the Aman Foundation so that it can restart its ambulance service for the people of the province.
Previous:
The ambulance service of Sindh Rescue and Medical Services, formerly known as Aman Ambulance, has closed its operations owing to the unavailability of required funds.
According to the details, the provincial government has failed to provide sufficient funds to the Ambulance service, which has resulted in the closure of the free service offered to the citizens of Karachi. The AMAN Foundation introduced the ambulance service on 25th June this year as a public-private partnership. The agreement was made between the Sindh government and Aman Health Care Services. According to it, the government will provide the funds, whereas Aman Health Care Services will be responsible for the operations. In this regard, the government also allocated Rs.412 million to ensure the seamless functionality of the service. These ambulances are internationally certified with the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) provided with the latest and advanced medical equipment. It includes life-saving drugs, trained paramedics, AED machines, ECG machines, cardiac monitors, and life-support equipment. Moreover, it was the only ambulance that had trained medical and paramedical staff in the city. Since its launch, Aman Ambulances have responded to more than 100,000 emergency calls and offered its advanced services to the citizens of Karachi.
It is worthy to mention here that it’s the only free ambulance service in Karachi, and its closure would result in a serious setback to the general public. In this connection, the drivers of ambulances and the rest of the staff are also protesting against the provincial government for not being paid for at least four months. The staff gathered outside the Head Office of Aman Foundation located in Korangi and protested by parking the ambulances and shouting several slogans. On the other hand, the administration of the Aman Foundation admitted the suspension of its services due to lack of funds but also ensured that the Sindh government would release the finances very soon to resume the operations. At the moment, the helpline 1021 is unavailable and is recorded with a message that says the service is not available due to the absence of funds. In my humble opinion, the provincial government should look into this matter and release the required funds to resume the free ambulance services for the general public. It plays a vital role in providing efficient services to patients across the city. In its absence, the citizens are facing tough times and pledging the government to resume the services.
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