Health Ministry to procure 400 new ambulances under Budget 2027 to improve emergency response times, after critical case response rates fell below the 50% target in 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry expects the procurement of 400 new ambulances under Budget 2027 to strengthen emergency response services, as its response rate for critical Priority 1 emergencies remained below the national target in 2025.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the response rate for such cases stood at 34.01 per cent in 2025, below the key performance indicator (KPI) target of 50 per cent for ambulance arrival within 15 minutes.
He said the ministry was systematically analysing ambulance response performance to identify areas for improvement, with the matter receiving close attention from him and the Health director-general.
“The ministry is also strengthening the operations of the Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 system, while monitoring patient transfer performance through specific indicators, including ambulance activation time,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) on ambulance standard operating procedures (SOPs), following concerns over shortages and delays of up to an hour in ambulance arrivals for accident cases in his constituency, including an incident reportedly occurring just 500 metres from a hospital.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an allocation of more than RM770 million under Budget 2027 last Friday to accelerate diagnosis and treatment at healthcare facilities. The allocation includes the procurement of advanced medical equipment and 400 new ambulances.
Dr Dzulkefly said paramedics in the field also received real-time treatment and resuscitation guidance from emergency medicine specialists to improve the effectiveness of emergency care.
On access to specialist services in rural areas and disparities between urban and rural healthcare, he said the ministry was implementing several measures, including the cluster hospital concept, which allows hospitals to share resources, expertise and equipment.
He said 43 hospital clusters had been established nationwide, enabling major hospitals to support facilities without specialist services and expand access to medical treatment and expertise.
The ministry was also extending selected clinical services to rural health clinics and hospitals without specialists, particularly for chronic disease management, early screening and continuity of patient care.
Dr Dzulkefly said access to surgery in rural areas was also being improved through the global surgery initiative, which enables specialists to visit hospitals without specialist services to perform procedures such as cataract and hernia surgery.