Kathmandu, October 16
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has launched a motorcycle ambulance service to address delays in reaching patients in narrow alleys and areas with heavy traffic.
Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol said the service began operating on Friday. Motorcycle ambulances are expected to be particularly useful in places where four-wheeled ambulances struggle to reach patients or are delayed by traffic congestion.
Speaking during a discussion with representatives of 13 hospitals and health institutions supported by the metropolitan city through grants and partnerships, Dangol said the city was implementing various programmes to improve public access to healthcare.
“Kathmandu has enough ambulances, but we have not been able to provide timely services. Traffic congestion often prevents ambulances from reaching patients on time,” she said.
The metropolitan city also operates a free ambulance service in partnership with Nepal Ambulance Service. Residents can access the service by calling 102. According to Dangol, the service has been expanded beyond Kathmandu Metropolitan City to other local governments across the valley.
She added that the 102 service had also helped emergency responders provide faster rescue and healthcare assistance during floods.
Dangol said the metropolitan city provides grants to hospitals and health institutions for infrastructure development, equipment purchases and direct healthcare services, depending on their needs. Representatives of the institutions presented reports on how they had used the grants, the number of patients served and the impact of the support.
In Kirtipur, the latest assistance was directed towards direct healthcare services rather than infrastructure or equipment, she said. A fund has been established to cover treatment costs for burn patients who might otherwise be unable to afford care.
The metropolitan city is also working with Kanti Children’s Hospital on infrastructure development and has supported infrastructure improvements in the Dallu area. Meanwhile, the upgrading of the intensive care unit at Manmohan Hospital is nearing completion, Dangol said.
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