Kathmandu. The Ministry of Health and Population has issued guidelines to integrate the operation of ambulance service.

Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Poudel has approved the ‘Ambulance Service Guidelines, 2082 BS’. The guidelines have been issued to make the ambulance service more systematic, integrated and accessible. According to the guidelines, ambulances operating across the country will be operated through integrated dispatch centers. In addition, to avail the service from anywhere, one can contact the number ‘102’ and all ambulances should be connected to the GPS system.

The guidelines have classified ambulances to bring uniformity and regulation in the quality of service. The guidelines provide for uniformity and regulation in the fees charged for ambulance services.

Provision has been made in the guidelines to provide free services to the poor, helpless and disaster-affected patients. Spokesperson at the Ministry, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, said the directive has been issued to make emergency health services systematic and effective.

“This directive has been brought with the objective of bringing the scattered ambulance service into a single-door system, ensuring citizens’ access to emergency treatment services and maintaining financial transparency,” he said. ’

With the approval of the guidelines, ambulance services across the country will come on an integrated network.