The Social Health Authority (SHA) has begun preparations for the rollout of the Ambulance Evacuation Programme, inviting healthcare providers across the country to undergo training.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a public notice issued through the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre (NADEC) on Tuesday, July 14, SHA called on healthcare providers that own, operate or are affiliated with ambulance services to participate in the training, saying the exercise will equip them with the operational requirements needed before the programme is officially rolled out.

According to the Authority, the training will cover ambulance dispatch and coordination through NADEC, operational requirements for participation, clinical and operational service standards, claims submission and reimbursement procedures, documentation requirements, and the responsibilities of participating healthcare providers.

The programme targets public, private, faith-based, mission, and other licensed healthcare facilities with ambulance services, with providers urged to nominate officers involved in emergency medical services, ambulance operations, and facility administration.

📌 What You Need to Know

The latest development follows President William Ruto's announcement in June that Kenya will launch its first-ever National Ambulance Dispatch Centre by the end of July, describing it as a major milestone in strengthening the country's emergency medical response.

Speaking during the 95th St John Ambulance Annual Parade and Inspection, the President said the dispatch centre would become only the second nationally coordinated ambulance system in Africa, integrating emergency response into digital health infrastructure through the Digital Health Agency.

According to the Head of State, the centre will use real-time coordination technology to improve ambulance deployment, reduce response times and enhance communication between emergency responders and health facilities.

The rollout comes against the backdrop of persistent challenges facing Kenya's emergency medical services. Recent performance audits by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu revealed that nearly one-third of ambulances across counties are non-operational, leaving patients waiting hours for urgent medical assistance.

The reports further exposed the absence of a coordinated national ambulance dispatch system, with many counties relying on outdated communication methods, lacking real-time ambulance tracking, and, in some cases, operating without toll-free emergency contact numbers.

While international standards recommend ambulance response times of between 15 and 20 minutes, the audits found that patients in some parts of the country wait one to two hours before receiving emergency transport.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke