The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health determined that the ambulance that caught fire at the parking lot in District 10 was not licensed to operate in emergency transportation or patient transport.
On March 6, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong said that the Department Inspectorate had coordinated with functional forces to verify the legal status and operation of the ambulance, after receiving news that the vehicle caught fire in a parking lot on Le Hong Phong Street, Ward 12, District 10.
Ambulance after catching fire at a parking lot in District 10. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health
The 29-year-old male driver from Phu Yen, after receiving first aid treatment for burns, admitted to being the owner of the burnt car. He said he bought the car from an acquaintance about 6 months ago but had not yet completed the transfer procedures. The car was usually parked at his house in Phu Yen province to transport patients. Occasionally, when a patient discharged from Cho Ray Hospital contacted him, he drove the car from Phu Yen to Ho Chi Minh City to pick them up and take them home.
Working with the Health Department Inspector, the driver said that at around 12:00 on March 5, while turning the valve to check the oxygen level in the ambulance, there was a sudden explosion and fire inside the vehicle. He provided documents including the authorization contract from the previous owner, the car registration certificate, the inspection certificate, and the license to use the vehicle's signaling device with priority issued by the Traffic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police to 115 Xuyen A Company Limited on December 27, 2023.
However, this person confirmed that the vehicle has not been licensed to operate emergency transportation or transport patients. As for 115 Xuyen A Company Limited, the Department of Health has granted a license to operate emergency services and support patient transportation at an address in Tan Binh with two ambulances, with different license plates from this vehicle, on September 20, 2022.
The Health Department Inspectorate continues to coordinate with relevant agencies to clarify the violations of the above vehicle owner.
The vehicle transporting patients on demand before it caught fire was owned by the owner and driver who specialized in transporting patients on the Phu Yen - Ho Chi Minh City route and vice versa. Photo provided by the driver to the Department of Health
According to Mr. Thuong, the health sector hopes to soon have separate regulations for two types, including ambulances and patient transport vehicles, to ensure patient safety as well as facilitate state management.
In the world, a vehicle that is only used to transport a patient without prior emergency treatment at the scene and does not require resuscitation en route is called an "ambulance". In contrast, a vehicle used to arrive at the scene outside the hospital for first aid by medical staff and then transport to the hospital for further treatment, requiring resuscitation on the vehicle is called an "emergency ambulance".
Many countries have clearly stipulated that ambulances are not allowed to have emergency lights or sirens, and that the staff accompanying the vehicle do not necessarily have to be emergency medical professionals outside the hospital. Emergency ambulances must be equipped with emergency lights and sirens, and must be equipped with full emergency equipment and tools, and the staff accompanying the vehicle must be properly trained emergency medical professionals outside the hospital.
Late last year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health inspected 8 private ambulance transport companies, only 2 facilities complied with regulations, the remaining 6 units had many violations such as not having parking lots, not providing emergency medicine on ambulances...
Le Phuong
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