The government is planning to introduce locally manufactured electric ambulances to strengthen emergency healthcare services and improve access to patient transport across the country including the rural areas.
The issue was discussed at a meeting on the development of electric ambulances using local technology, held at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday morning with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
He said the government is working to ensure ambulance services are available closer to people's doorsteps.
"To achieve this goal, the meeting was held today where detailed discussions took place and several decisions were made," Shiplu said.
He said the project will initially be launched in one upazila as a pilot programme.
"If the initiative proves successful, it will help meet the country’s growing demand for ambulances and reduce dependence on imports," the deputy press secretary added.
The Prime Minister's Press Wing said the government is considering a three-tier ambulance service system.
Under the plan, different types of ambulances would be developed for transporting patients from villages to upazilas, from upazilas to districts, and from districts to the capital.
Experts and officials told the meeting that the initiative could reduce reliance on imported ambulances and make modern ambulance services available at a lower cost.
They also noted that the project would help improve the country's emergency patient transport system.
According to the Press Wing, experts informed the meeting that the locally produced ambulances would include essential medical equipment, oxygen support systems and other emergency healthcare facilities.
The vehicles would be designed taking into account Bangladesh's geographical conditions and road network.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain Bakul, State Minister MA Muhit, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health SM Ziauddin Haider, Health Services Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, PM's Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) including Professor Muhammad Ehsan, Professor Ziaur Rahman, Professor Abdul Salam Akhand and Professor Jahangir Alam, attended the meeting along with senior officials.
END/UNB/ASA
