Gov’t denies ‘rushed calls’ to distribute ambulances

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has demised reports suggesting that government has rushed calls for over 40 ambulances imported into the country to be commissioned for use.

He disclosed this in an interview with Joy FM’s Super Morning Show hosted by Daniel Dadzie.

“The suppliers have not handed the vehicles to the Ministry yet…meaning pre-delivery inspection and other things haven’t been done…when the supplier hasn’t called you to say that these are your keys… how do we distribute the vehicles for use?” he asked.

According to him, although the ambulances have arrived, some important technical provisions have not been completed.

He said apart from technical inspections, more emergency health workers would have to be trained to ensure the ambulances best serve their purpose.

About 98 ambulances have been parked for weeks in the face of shortage of such medical supplies in some of the country’s major health facilities.

The lack of ambulances in some key health facilities in the country is said to be one of the causes of high mortality in rural areas.

The National Ambulance Service despite having 130 stations share about 55 ambulances.

With over 98 parked for weeks without any apparent reason, Ghanaians have expressed outrage about the situation.

The Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has given the government three days within which to distribute the procured ambulances.