The stock of ambulances owned by the state will be renewed during the next five years, in accordance with the European standards and the recommendations of the World Health Organization, deputy minister of health Oleg Creciun stated in the public debate “Social aspects of the year 2016 in the view of authorities and experts” that was staged by IPN News Agency.
Oleg Creciun noted that the Ministry of Health at the start of September pledged to reform the Emergency Medical Assistance Service. In this regard, the Government approved the National Program for 2016-2020 to develop and implement the single emergency phone number 112 and to develop the Mobile Emergency, Reanimation and Extrication Service (SMURD).
The deputy minister said the authorities during the next few years aim to purchase 400 ambulances type B and 150 ambulances type C, in accordance with the European standards and WHO recommendations. The sanitary units of transport will be outfitted with medical devices needed to provide emergency medical care, to stabilize and maintain the vital functions of patients in a critical state, until they are taken to the hospital. About 1.3 billion lei will be invested for the purpose. The money will be allocated from the state budget, the National Health Insurance Company and by foreign partners.
Oleg Creciun said 80% of the ambulances of the Emergency Medical Assistance Service are over 100% worn-out at a time when the wear degree should be under 50%. The number of ambulances now is very low and will be practically doubled during the next five years.
The SMURD service will be extended to cover the whole country. It now works only in Balti and Cahul. The service will be provided with more ambulances for the rescuers, who are also paramedics, to intervene in critical situations, until an ambulance arrives.
The public debate “Social aspects of the year 2016 in the view of authorities and experts” is the 69th debate of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are organized with the assistance of the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.