The public emergency medical services via phone number 115 have remained out of reach of most patients and their families and catered to a mere 1% of those in need, heard a meeting on Oct 16.

A recent survey launched by Trung Vuong Emergency Hospital, which offers the 115 service, revealed that only some 34% of the 2,025 respondents throughout Ho Chi Minh City are aware of the services.

According to Dr. Huynh Thi Thanh Trang, from Trung Vuong Emergency Hospital, though the media have helped boost locals’ awareness of the services, there has yet to be a marked increase in their use.

Topping the reasons for locals’ limited use of the services is the long time it would take to get an ambulance to the patients’ home, though paramedics and state-of-the-art medical kits are available on the vehicles.

A recent survey in HCMC reveals that among the emergency calls made from places in the proximity of Trung Vuong Emergency Hospital, only 11% got the ambulance to arrive within 10 minutes. That explains why locals choose to rush the patients to hospital by motorbike or taxi.

Poor coordination between the hospital and others has also resulted in locals’ lack of trust and unwillingness to use the service.

Among the 751,000 emergency cases citywide in 2010, only 6,159 calls were made to the 115 operators and 5,225 ambulance runs were recorded.

According to Nguyen The Dung, former head of the HCMC Department of Health, it’s the responsibility of the city People’s Committee and the Ministry of Health to reshuffle the city’s emergency aid grid, increase the number of 115 emergency centers throughout the city and boost coordination among hospitals.

He also urged that education on first aid and simple resuscitation procedures be boosted among locals, students and taxi drivers to cope with rampant traffic congestion.