A survey conducted by Makerere University School of Public Health to find out the state of emergency medical care in Uganda has revealed that 70% of ambulances to ferry patients to hospitals lack equipment.
The findings of the survey were published in the scientific and clinical journal, BioMed Central and it also revealed that there are no medical supplies and at times even trained personnel on the ambulances.
Findings from the survey were established after 52 pre-hospital service providers like ambulance services or police pick-trucks showed that the level of care given to patients is substandard during transportation to health facilities.
Findings also show that both police and ambulances do not have essential medical supplies or equipment like pain medication, vital signs monitors, an electro-cardiogram (ECG) machine, a defibrillator or an intubation set used to clear blocked airways.
In addition to lack of medicines, finding from the survey also shows that majority of the persons who operate emergency service vehicles or missions do not have any kind of medical training.
Dr. John Baptist Wanyiaye, the Commissioner in charge of Ambulance Services at the Ministry of health says that since the policy has not yet been passed, there is little that the ministry can do enforce ambulance standards in the country.