The government will procure 400 new Toyota ambulances and 500 motorbikes to strengthen emergency medical services nationwide, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr. George Kojo Owusu, has announced.
Speaking at a press conference titled “The State of the National Ambulance Service” at the NAS headquarters on Tuesday, Dr. Owusu said the acquisition forms part of efforts to retool and expand the Service’s operational capacity.
He noted that a significant number of the existing ambulances are ageing and require replacement, making the procurement critical to sustaining efficient emergency response.
“The new ambulances will significantly boost our fleet capacity and enhance our ability to respond promptly to emergencies nationwide,” he said.
According to Dr. Owusu, the 400 ambulances will comprise various categories, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Critical Care, Pediatric, and Mobile Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ambulances. The diverse fleet is expected to improve the quality of pre-hospital emergency care by addressing different medical needs.
In addition, the Service will introduce a Rapid Response Unit equipped with 500 motorbikes. The motorbikes are expected to reduce response times, particularly in congested urban areas and hard-to-reach communities where conventional ambulances may face access challenges. They will also provide initial patient stabilisation before the arrival of fully equipped ambulances, potentially improving survival outcomes.
The planned procurement marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the National Ambulance Service and is aimed at reinforcing its mandate to provide timely and quality pre-hospital emergency care across the country.
