Karachi’s free ambulance service remains suspended owing to paucity of funds

• Ambulance drivers and other staff members protested over non-payment of four month salary.
• The AMAN Foundation formally launched the free ambulance service on June 25, earlier this year.
• Sindh government signed an MoU with Aman Healthcare Services a few days ago to rescue it from financial crisis.

(Karachi) Operation of ambulances being run by AMAN Foundation in Karachi remains suspended owing to paucity of funds.

In a bid to rescue the ambulance service from financial crisis, the Government of Sindh signed an MoU with Aman Healthcare Services (AHCS) a few days ago for sponsorship of Sindh Rescue and Medical Service (SRMS).

As part of the agreement, lifesaving emergency medical service will be operated by Aman Health Care Services. However, the only free ambulance service in the city is still unable to resume its day to day operations.

Earlier, the ambulance drivers and other staff members also protested against the Sindh government as they were not paid at least four month salary. They parked the ambulances outside Aman Foundation's Head Office in Korangi and shouted slogans demanding their salaries.

The administration of Aman Foundation admitted delay in providing funds but stated the Sindh government will release finances soon.

The AMAN Foundation formally launched the free ambulance service on June 25, earlier this year, as a public-private partnership between the Sindh government and Aman Health Care Services. As part of the agreement, the Sindh government provided the funds while Aman Health Care Services managed the operations.

The Sindh government allocated Rs412 million to ensure smooth functioning of the ambulance service.

All the ambulances being run by AMAN Foundation consists of life support equipment, including AED machines, cardiac monitors, ECG machines etc mainly to deal with emergency situations.

The ambulances are run on an internationally certified Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) along with the latest medical equipment, life-saving drugs and trained paramedics.

Since the service began, the AMAN ambulances responded to at least 102,606 emergency calls.