The ministry of health (MOH) is planning to modernise Malaysia’s ambulance services by partnering with private hospitals to introduce an e-hailing inspired service for their operations. The initiative involves creating a shared pool of ambulances from both public and private sectors, accessible via a dedicated app instead of the traditional 999 hotline.
With the proposed app, the nearest available ambulance – whether MOH or private – will respond to emergency calls and transport patients to the closest hospital. Users can choose whether to be taken to a public or private facility. According to MOH deputy secretary-general Norazman Ayob, the move will also eliminate the need for hospitals to own ambulances, as the ministry plans to lease ambulances and drivers, potentially including paramedics, under the new system.
Norazman, speaking at the MIH Megatrends 2024 conference, highlighted the efficiency gains of the app-based model. It allows patients or their families to request an ambulance with a single tap, providing real-time tracking of the vehicle’s journey. The app would reduce delays by bypassing the 999 operator and the Medical Emergency Coordinating Centre (MECC), which currently handle emergency calls before dispatching an ambulance.
The deputy secretary-general later clarified on social media that ambulance rides to government hospitals would remain free, while those opting for private hospitals would incur charges. The app-based system, which also includes ambulances operated by NGOs and corporate entities, is expected to provide a more efficient and responsive emergency service, benefiting both public and private healthcare sectors.
The president of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia Dr Kuljit Singh supported the initiative, noting inefficiencies in the existing system. He pointed out that public ambulances often refuse to transport patients to private hospitals, even when requested, causing unnecessary delays. The shared pool model aims to address these issues, improving resource utilisation and ensuring faster access to care.
It’s also worth mentioning that local e-prescriptions provider DOC2US introduced on-demand ambulance services via its app back in 2022. This was made possible through a partnership with private ambulance operator First Tejani Ambulance Services (FTAS).
(Source: Code Blue)
