KARACHI, Oct 11: The keys of 18 ambulances were handed over to the representatives of state-owned district-level healthcare centres of Sindh on Monday by the chief minister's adviser on health, Faisal Malik.

The ambulances, which had been acquired at a total cost of Rs30 million, were equipped with the latest first-aid and emergency equipment, said Mr Malik at the handing over ceremony.

He said that the health department had earlier bought ambulances more than 10 years ago. "The ambulances, which had been distributed over a decade ago, are in a state of disrepair today," said the adviser.

Mr Malik said that the health department could have bought cheaper and locally assembled ambulances, just as it did the last time. "But this was not done because we want to provide quality service to the people," he added.

He instructed the medical superintendents and executive district officers health to ensure that the ambulances were not misused in any way. The adviser said: "The officials who are being given the keys today will be responsible for their proper use.

If we find that the ambulances are not being used properly tough action would be taken against all those responsible." He said that every ambulance should have a log book, to keep track of the fuel used and places visited.

Two ambulances were being provided to the Civil Hospital Karachi and another two to the Liaquat Medical University, Jamshoro, he said. One ambulance each was provided to: the Lyari General Hospital, Karachi; Sindh Government Liaquatabad Hospital, Karachi; Services Hospital, Karachi; Sindh Government Employees, Karachi; People's Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah; and, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana.

The health-care centres at Sukkur, Thatta, Jacobabad, Mithi, Dadu, Shikarpur, Sanghar and Kotri were also provided one ambulance each. Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Secretary Health Prof Noshad Sheikh said that the ambulances were being provided to the district-level hospitals not for the benefit of doctors but that for the patients. He said that the health department had allocated suitable money for the maintenance of these ambulances.

He was of the opinion that the budget allowed to the health department was not a paltry one. "The budget is a sizable one, provided the money is spent judiciously," he added.

Additional Secretary Health Iqbal Dewan said that there was a shortage of ambulances as no ambulance had been acquired during the last 10 years. After the event, Mr Malik told a group of journalists that properly trained paramedical staff would be assigned to the 18 ambulances so that proper care was provided to the patients on their way to healthcare centres. He said that each ambulance had a mini-operation theatre, besides other emergency equipment.