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Parliament has approved a loan of 18.8 million euros to purchase 112 additional ambulances for the National Ambulance Service in order to improve the provision of medical care in the country.
The loan contract is between the Government of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Finance and Deustche Bank AG, Frankfurt Main in the amount of € 18,815,000, including the Euler Hermes premium guarantee to finance the supply of ambulances and training services. and related maintenance.
According to the report of the Finance Committee, the government, through the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, purchased and distributed 307 ambulances to increase the 50 existing ambulances throughout the country.
However, the number seems inadequate. In response to this, the government is acquiring an additional 112 ambulances to augment the current fleet.
In light of that, Deutsche Bank AG agreed to provide the necessary funds to carry out this project and it is this agreement that is before the Chamber.
The Committee also noted that the country needs more than 1,000 ambulances to be able to provide pre-hospital care and handle transfers between facilities.
Presenting the Committee’s report, the chairman, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, said that the approval of the facility for the supply of 112 ambulances for the National Ambulance Service will support the country’s health system to function effectively at all levels. .
He added that the additional ambulances would help improve the delivery of emergency medical care, improve the country’s emergency response and reduce the morbidity of patients with emergency conditions; provide immediate and effective life-saving care in a safe and clinical work environment; and, in general, improve health care.
Meanwhile, a member of the Finance Committee from the minority side, Richard Acheampong praised the government for purchasing additional ambulances to improve medical care.
However, he was not happy that some officials from the National Ambulance Service are demanding money before treating patients in need.
The Bia East MP also urged the government to adequately fund ambulance services to ensure efficiency.
But the chairman of the Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah, said the procurement of more is laudable and the government is on track to achieve the WHO population share of ambulance supply.
He added that ambulance services are supposed to be free, adding that the referred officials who practice the practice are committing illegalities.
