Question NW1368 to the Minister of Health
07 July 2020 - NW1368
Gwarube, Ms S to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether the Scooter Project that was launched by the Eastern Cape Department of Health meets the basic criteria of patient transport; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether his department was consulted before the specified scooters were procured; if so, what brief was given to the province in this regard?
Reply:
1. No, the Scooter Project that was launched by the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) does not meet the basic criteria for patient transport as an ambulance. The purpose of this project by ECDOH is mainly for widening access to primary health care and delivering of chronic medicine for the most remote areas of the Eastern Cape Province.
2. The National Department of Health was not consulted on specifications before procurement of the scooters. However, the Province has been advised that none of these scooters will be used as ambulances because they do not meet the specific requirements as provided for in the EMS Regulations, such as, minimum patient compartment space and equipment requirements.
END.