Establishing a successful pre-hospital emergency service in a developing country: experience from Rescue 1122 service in Pakistan.
As in many other developing countries, emergency medical services, especially pre-hospital emergency care, has long been neglected in Pakistan. Consequently, patients are brought to the emergency departments by relatives or bystanders in private cars, taxis or any other readily available mode of transportation. Ambulances, where they exist, have barely a stretcher and arrangements for oxygen supply. Modern emergency services are considered too costly for many countries. A model of pre-hospital emergency services, called Rescue 1122 and established in Punjab province of Pakistan, is presented. The system is supported by government funding and provides a quality service. The article describes the process of establishment of the service, the organisational structure, the scope of services and the role it is currently playing in the healthcare of the region it serves.
Waseem
Hunniya
H
Rescue 1122, Punjab Emergency Services, IH-70 Falcon Complex, Gulberg 3, Lahore 75500, Pakistan. hunniyawaseem@hotmail.com
Naseer
Rizwan
R
Razzak
Junaid Abdul
JA
D003906:Developing Countries; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010154:Pakistan; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors