Transferring some patients within Tehran may take up to 90 minutes

Deputy Minister of Health for Treatment, noting the distances between medical centers and the need to transfer patients, said: Even in Tehran, transferring some patients may take one to one and a half hours.

According to Ambassador Arjan's report, quoted by Vebeda, Seyed Sajjad Razavi, on Thursday, in the ceremony of improving the capacity of the country's hospital and emergency ambulance fleet, appreciated the attention of the Minister of Health to the provision of hospital ambulances, emphasized the necessity of modernizing the fleet, increasing the access of medical centers to quality ambulances and the targeted use of the capacities of the health system.

Referring to the problems of some medical centers in transferring patients and injured, he said: When visiting different areas, sometimes requests are made to establish a hospital; Because the people and local authorities are facing restrictions on the transfer of patients. While in some regions, providing a suitable ambulance and providing the possibility of quick transfer of the patient to a specialized center can be a more effective and appropriate solution to the treatment needs of the region.

Specialized trauma centers need experienced treatment teams and advanced facilities

Emphasizing the necessity of referring trauma patients to specialized centers, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health said: The treatment of accident victims, especially complex trauma cases, requires large and well-equipped hospitals that have specialized and experienced teams, including general surgeons, neurosurgeons, and vascular surgeons.

Razavi added: In some medical centers, initial measures may be taken to stabilize the patient's condition, but continuing the treatment of many injured people requires their transfer to specialized trauma centers. In such a situation, having a sufficient and suitable ambulance for the safe transfer of the patient after stabilizing the hemodynamic status is particularly important.

Referring to the distance between medical centers and the need to transfer patients, he noted: Even in Tehran, the transfer of some patients may take one to one and a half hours. Therefore, the distance of 30 to 50 kilometers in many areas does not necessarily prevent the transfer of the patient to a more equipped center, provided that the proper facilities for safe and timely transfer are available.

A hospital without an ambulance and a doctor cannot fully respond to people's needs

The deputy medical director of the Ministry of Health stated that the development of medical infrastructure should be carried out according to the facilities and real needs of the regions, and clarified: if a hospital operates without a suitable ambulance or without the required doctor, it creates the expectation of receiving full services in the people, but in practice it may not be able to respond to their needs; An issue that will cause dissatisfaction and increase people's complaints.

He continued: We have to be accountable to the people in all ways of providing health services, but this accountability cannot be achieved by building a hospital. In some areas, strengthening the ambulance fleet and making it possible to transfer patients to more equipped centers can avoid spending resources to create infrastructure that alone cannot meet specialized needs.

Razavi emphasized: If medical centers have a sufficient number of suitable and high-quality ambulances, they can provide more effective services to patients, and at the same time, it will be possible to use the capacity of specialized and advanced centers in the country.

Ambulances should only serve the sick and injured

Referring to the necessity of maintaining the capacity of the hospital ambulance fleet, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health stated: An ambulance is a means of serving the sick and injured and should not be used for unrelated matters. The use of ambulances for unnecessary and administrative transfers is prohibited, and if such cases are observed, the issue will be seriously pursued.

Appreciating the Minister of Health and the group of colleagues of this ministry for paying attention to the provision of hospital ambulances, he said: Allocating ambulances to medical centers, especially hospitals that need these facilities to start or develop their activities, is a valuable measure. In some deprived areas, the lack of ambulances has made it difficult to transport the sick and injured, and the provision of this medical vehicle can play an important role in improving people's access to health services.

Emphasizing the need to pay attention to the provision and maintenance of ambulances, Razavi pointed out: Ambulances must be of good quality and technical preparation so that they do not suffer from technical defects during patient transportation. If the ambulance breaks down or does not have the required quality, our main goal of providing good services and satisfying people will not be achieved.

In the end, he congratulated Hazrat Zainab Kabri (PBUH) on his birthday and Nurse's Day, and expressed his hope that people will always be healthy and find less need for ambulance services and, if needed, receive the highest possible quality services.