When times are desperate and you’re in need of help, the generation that grew up on pop songs might only have one melody in their head – somebody call 911.
But of course, here in Singapore, you’d have to dial 995 for that.
You also can’t anyhowly call for an ambulance when it concerns the possible saving of a life – nor can you call for just any ambulance.
Private Ambulance Under Investigation For Misrepresentation
Our Ministry of Health (MOH) really takes those things seriously.
The MOH has recently filed a police report against private ambulance organisation Singapore Emergency Ambulance Services (Seas) in response to feedback that they have misrepresented many public and private hospitals in their online listings.
These hospitals include Changi General Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Raffles Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
When ambulance services from these six hospitals were searched for online, they led to Seas’ contact number, MOH said on 8 Feb.
This wouldn’t have been a problem, but Seas is in fact “not endorsed or provided by the hospitals set out in the list above, and has no authorisation to operate any ‘ambulance service bays’ or ‘ambulance bays’ on their behalf, MOH has filed a police report in respect of Seas’ misrepresentations,” the ministry cleared up.
The incident is currently under investigation while MOH is still considering to refer this issue to the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore, which seeks to ensure fair competition in the market; after all,. we can’t have private ambulances taking patients to hospitals they’re not linked up with.
When asked to comment on the issue, Seas told The Straits Times that the organisation nor any of their employees had made it out to seem that they represented any hospital “at no point in time”.
They added that they “intend to and will fully cooperate with all police investigations.”
There’s An Existing Scheme For Private Ambulances
Not all private ambulances services like Seas are unauthorised by certain hospitals, however.
The Voluntary Accreditation Scheme (VAS) was introduced in January 2018 to raise the capabilities and competencies of private ambulances in order to assure patients’ safety and welfare.
Private ambulances must meet a certain set of requirements to be accredited under this scheme, including important documentation, equipment, medications as well as protocols regarding life-saving and infection control.
Seas, unfortunately, is currently not under the scheme, said MOH.
Additionally, the scheme aims to provide assistance to providers in seamlessly implementing the Healthcare Services Act to be phased in by the end of next year.
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By the second half of 2021, private ambulance services will be licensed under the Act, regulated as either an emergency ambulance service or medical transport service.
30 private ambulance operators have currently met the standards set by the VAS.
MOH also urges for the public to check out the services accredited under the scheme through the Healthcare Institutions Directory list if you ever find yourself needing to engage in such private ambulance services.
Featured Image: DerekTeo / Shutterstock.com
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