Some 36 brand new ambulances fully-equipped with the latest technology and fitted to deal with emergency and trauma situations add to the National Emergency Service’s fleet to allow healthcare emergency service and paramedics deliver real-time adequate service to anyone who needs emergent health care all over Albania. The National Emergency Service’s fleet has now been transformed from a fleet of outdated vehicles, which were used as taxi cabs, into a decent fleet fitted and equipped to deliver best European standards. The fleet is now fully operational, capable of providing a real time response to any emergency call and deliver 24/7 first aid treatment to patients in whole territory of Albania.
Prime Minister Edi Rama was familiarized with the equipment installed on the new batch of ambulance vehicles that add to the existing fleet during a handover ceremony, also attended by the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu, and the Director General of the National Medical Emergency Centre, Skender Brataj. “The ambulances are fitted with medical oxygen with a capacity of 4400 litres each, a sufficient quantity to allow for respiratory support for several hours and transport a patient from Konispol to Tropoje, if necessary. This is a kind of a mobile hospital fully equipped with oxygen cylinders, defibrillators, ventilators, trauma gear, providing high chances for the patients’ survival. Once an ambulance like this arrives at the patient’s place, it is a kind of a mini-hospital,” Brataj said.
“These are 36 brand new ambulances, well-equipped with all life-saving equipment. The new fleet is an investment as part of the funds earmarked for the health system to cope with the pandemic, since our goal is to provide real time response to any emergency call and this investment will allow us to meet this objective and it will significantly improve performance of the emergency service teams. The National Medical Emergency teams have been doubled as further expansion of our fleet requires additional staff,” Health Minister Manastirliu said.
On their part, the ambulance dispatch staff members and physicians expressed gratitude for this investment as part of the efforts to further improve the medical emergency service. “We are really pleased, because as soon as they get on these ambulances, patients will find themselves like being inside a hospital and full treatment can be provided to any patient. It is also a pleasure for us as physicians to work with all these equipment and modern technology,” one of the doctors said.
Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the delivery of the new ambulances as a complete cycle in the country’s health care system after being left in oblivion for more than a quarter of a century. “The devastation reigning for over a quarter of the century is now a thing of the past and with the total overhaul of the system and digitizing process all it remains now is to go on with intense work and maintain the momentum. As soon as this COVID infection is over, the situation will be much calmer, more stabilized and the service speed will definitely increase,” the Premiere said.
As many as 80 new ambulances were added to the medical emergency service’ fleet in the past two years alone and now the fleet has a total of 150 fully-equipped vehicles to deliver best health care.
“These ambulances will be delivered to all regional hospitals to further improve existing capacities and just imagine that it was just few years ago when patients had to be transported by personal cars, because there was no unique emergency number to dial and address health concerns. On the other hand, the ambulances were completely empty inside and no equipment was installed on them. They were virtually empty and acted like taxis. Meanwhile, now not only are the ambulances fully fitted with the required equipment, but the paramedic teams are also well-trained. All these 36 ambulances will be all dedicated to management of the pandemic and they will certainly offer more quality service. The fact that doctor Brataj pointed out that the oxygen quantity each ambulance carries provides us with more relief to cope with any potential scenario in the future,” the Minister of Health Manastirliu said.
