Ambulance Service Faces Crisis of Chaos
A government ban against "victim-grabbing" ambulance companies seems to be working, mostly. (08 December 2008)
The Ministry of Health in November issued a ban on the“anarchic grabbing” of victims of traffic accidents, following the developmentof a system where witnesses earn money for calling private clinics that may betoo far away to really help a victim. The majority have abided the directive, which was followedby sharp words for ambulance operators from Prime Minsiter Hun Sen, but notall. “For the safety of victims and avoiding the anarchicactivities of grabbing customers, the ministry banned private clinics fromsending their ambulances to take victims of accidents,” said Heng Taykry,secretary of state for the Ministry of Health. “The ministry will annul the licensesand shut down the clinics of those who violate this directive. And trafficpolice and concerned authorities are empowered to stop the ambulances.” The directive is meant to address the growing problem ofambulance pay schemes to tipsters or traffic police, but Chhorn Nareth, chiefof Calmette Hospital’s ambulance operation—the official operation ofCambodia—said the ban requires the cooperation of the public. “The order has been effective,” he said. “There are only oneor two private clinics that continue to send their ambulances.” It remains to be seen whether the directive will mitigatesome of the chaos at accident scenes. Adding to the problem is that the official 119 number, whichconnects to Calmette, is often abused. “Hello, is this the number for your ambulance?” a young manasks a 119 operator. “Yes, this is the emergency line,” she says. “One day, when I am sick, I will call you,” the youth says,hanging up. “Hello, darling,” says an apparently inebriated caller.“Talk to me again. I want to listen to you. Do you understand me? I call you everyday.” Uvicheka Linda, a Calmette emergency line operator, said shehas become used to conversations like these, which make up 80 percent of her incoming calls. “They cursed me every day, old or young,” she said. “I thinkthat if we could identify their number, it would be better, because our numberis very important for people who are in danger.”