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New Ambulances Are Changing the Way Emergencies Are Dealt With

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

Jul. 19--A mobile intensive-care ambulance modified from a luxury Mercedes-Benz van by Spain's Emergencia 2000 S.A. and imported by Ramkhamhaeng Hospital is likely to be a catalyst for change in the patient-transport system in Thailand.

With space ample to accommodate not only a stretcher and attendants' seats but also a built-in medicine cabinet and emergency tools such as a suction unit and resuscitator, it could make other ambulances in service today obsolete.

"Transporting injured people or patients in small vans that are operated by those without first-aid backgrounds or reckless drivers could be highly dangerous," said Dr Siripong Luengvarinkul, deputy managing director of Ramkhamhaeng Hospital Plc (RAM).

"More importantly, ambulances modified from small vehicles, which leave tiny space for medical crew, could worsen the conditions of patients and provide inconvenience circumstances for rescue crew."

He said RAM had planned to procure more advanced ambulances for use in the near future after the first unit was brought in early this year. Each unit costs around 10 million baht each, with the vehicles and modifications alone costing 6-7 million and the remaining cost in the form of specialised equipment.

RAM clinched a deal last month to buy 10 more of the specialised ambulances worth around 100 million baht with Emergencia2000, one of the largest ambulance and medical suppliers in Europe.

"These vehicles will not be driven by just any drivers but only by those well trained by Samur, a world-class rescue unit supervised by the Madrid municipality," he said.

Dr Siripong said a training centre and courses designed specially for ambulance drivers will be set up with the support from Emergencia2000 and Samur, which now runs 17 rescue units in Spain's capital with the co-operation of police, hospitals and taxis. The unit has played important role in the aftermath of the terrorist bombings in Madrid on March 11, 2003.

According to Javier Quiroga Mellado, chief of the training unit of Samur, staff of Samur including doctors, nurses and volunteers were obliged to take a 100-hour training programme.

He said Samur and Emergencia2000 were willing to provide training programmes for ambulance crew to improve the service in Thailand. A team will be sent here to train RAM's staff on proper ways and low-risk in carrying and transporting injured people or those with specific medical conditions.

Julian Rodriguez Fernande, managing director of Emergencia2000, said most of the ambulances and emergency medical tools of Samur had been supplied by his company. Ambulances designed for RAM have been tailored as mobile intensive-care units (ICUs), not as a standard type, for cost-effectiveness. They are fully equipped with good emergency medical equipment for critical patients.

Mr Fernande said the agreement with RAM would improve the medical services in Thailand and help fulfill the country's ambition to be one of finest health-care destinations in the region.

He said the medilcal supply business in Asia, especially in Thailand, was growing in line with the expanding healthcare services. The trend prompted Emergencia to establish a division in the Thai market that could enable the company to broaden its market here.

Sales of the company are expected to rise to 24-25 million euros this year, up from 21 million euros last year, thanks to the 7 percent to 8 percent growth on average of the medical equipment market.

RAM's hospital director, Dr Jermpol Phoomitrakul, said that intense competition among hospitals in Thailand had driven private hospitals to look for advanced technologies to improve their services.

The vehicles and medical equipment will be imported separately in order to enjoy a 1 percent import tax on medical equipment.

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Source: Bangkok Post

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