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Air Ambulance for Hormozgan

Air Ambulance for Hormozgan
Air Ambulance for Hormozgan

As part of the plans to improve Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the country, the Ministry of Health launched the first air medical service in Hormozgan Province recently.

The ceremony was held at Hormozgan Airport with Health Minister Hassan Hashemi in attendance.

The air ambulance, a specially outfitted helicopter, will provide 24-hour services across the province. Hormozgan in an area of 80 sq km has a 1,500 km long coastline and 14 islands which makes transport and logistics difficult. Therefore, air medical service is crucial to the provincial health system. The chopper will be able to transport the injured or sick in a medical emergency or over distances or terrain impractical for a conventional ground ambulance.

Hashemi said that 21 emergency medical ambulances are currently in operation and the ministry is trying to increase the number to 45.    

Additionally, two marine emergency boats are operating between Qeshm Island and Bandar-Abbas and two more are slated to be added soon.

Air and marine medical services are top priorities of the ministry and several European countries have made offers to cooperate in this regard. In addition, 30 motorcycles equipped with emergency medical equipment are providing services in the metropolises. The ministry is making efforts to raise the number to 200 motorbikes.

In another move to improve the ambulance fleet, the Health Ministry has purchased 2,000 modern ambulances, the first shipment of which has arrived.

Hashemi pointed to the lack of investment on health and treatment equipment in the past decade and said the incumbent administration “will hopefully make up for the deficit.”

Financialtribune.com