Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Ambulance Service has seen a significant reduction in the number of calls received for minor cases, a development attributed to a national awareness campaign.
Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service, Ali Darwish, stated that this decline represents a significant drop from the previously recorded average of 20% of calls received through the National Command Centre requesting ambulance services for minor cases.
“The Ambulance Service has received strong public cooperation and support, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of calls received for conditions that do not require ambulance assistance,” Ali Darwish told The Peninsula yesterday.
He said that due to awareness, for low priority conditions people go to healthcare facilities than calling the Ambulance Service.
On Monday, the Ambulance Service received 722 calls and among them 607 were related to medical emergencies and 115 due to trauma, and 32 related to road traffic accidents. Three patients were transported by life-flight air ambulance.
According to data published by HMC the Ambulance Service has received more than 122,800 and more than 680 life-flight air ambulance activations between January and April in 2024.
The national campaign ‘Where For Your Care?’, since its launch in January raise awareness of emergency and urgent healthcare services in Qatar and help patients make the best choice for their medical care needs.
As part of the campaign, the public is being educated about symptoms and conditions that require calling an ambulance, along with alternative treatment options for non-life-threatening cases. Critical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, seizure, choking, chest pain, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, and severe allergic reactions are classified as life-threatening conditions.
Ali Darwish also said that HMC’s long-standing national awareness campaign ‘Know The Five to Save Life’ has significantly contributed to enhancing the Ambulance Service.
“Public corporate with the Ambulance Service by giving way to ambulances on the roads,” he said.
He clarified that the Ambulance Service works closely with the General Directorate of Traffic to waive these violations based on reports confirming the ambulance’s presence and the driver’s cooperation.
‘Know The Five to Save Life’ campaign focuses on key points that are critical to ensuring an ambulance reaches the patient as quickly as possible to deliver live-saving treatment which are dial 999 immediately, know the location, answer all questions asked by the paramedics, follow their instructions and give way to ambulances.
