KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho launched on Tuesday a mortuary ambulance service as part of the Sindh Integrated Emergency Services.

Initially launched with a fleet of 25 ambulances, the service would be available free of cost in Karachi and some other districts on Emergency Number 1122.

Speaking at the ceremony held at D.J Sindh Government Science College,Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that currently 1122 emergency ambulances, equipped with facilities for first aid and trauma treatment, were being used to transport dead bodies, which was a waste of resources.

“Creating a separate functioning ambulance-fleet as a mortuary service would allow for better efficiency in healthcare delivery. Eight of these ambulances will be available in Karachi and five will be sent to other districts,” she said.

She added that the number of the ambulances would gradually be increased to 303.

The services, she said, would be available free of cost to transport dead bodies to a home or a graveyard anywhere across Sindh.

About reports in the social media that these ambulances were in disuse, the minister said the department was readying these vehicles for service and this took time.

Sindh health secretary Zulfiqar Shah and parliamentary health secretary Qasim Siraj Soomro were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2023