The provincial health department is seriously considering to hand over the public sector ambulance service to a private organisation to improve the standard of rescue services across the province, sources at health department said on Thursday.
They said the move was aimed at stopping corruption being committed every year in account fuel and also improving the standard of rescue service. They informed that ambulances were being used for personal matters in public sector institutions rather than shifting patients with emergency requirements in hospitals.
They informed that it was observed that corruption worth millions of rupees was being committed annually in the name of fuel and maintenance of vehicles, thus authorities concerned were planning to hand over ambulance services to Aman Foundation engaged in large-scale rescue services throughout the city. The provincial authorities are preparing documentation and agreement will be signed soon between health department and Aman Foundation. Aman Foundation ambulance service is successfully operating across the city and their rescue vehicles are equipped with all modern facilities and trained staff to provide first-aid treatment to patients during shifting them into hospitals.
When contacted, Secretary Health Iftikhar Ali Shallwani confirmed that the provincial government was planning to run government ambulance services under private partnership to improve the rescue services in the province. He informed that in initial phase, ambulances service of government run hospitals would be handed over to Aman Foundation in Sujawal and Thatta districts.
He said after watching performance of rescue services in two districts, the ambulance services would be handed over to private organisation in Karachi and other parts of province in next phase.
