KARACHI, Dec 15: The city government’s “emergency ambulance service” will start functioning on January 1, 2009.

This was stated at a meeting held here on Monday under the chairmanship of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.

The meeting was told that the service would be linked with the city’s five major hospitals. The ambulance service would have equipment for emergency medical assistance and a modern wireless system, besides doctors and paramedical staff. The meeting was attended by DCO Javed Hanif, Federal Director-General of Health Dr Rasheed Jumma, Dr Junaid of the Aga Khan University Hospital, as well as the EDO health and other relevant officials.

This service would also be linked with the helpline “1122”.

The city nazim informed the meeting that vehicles had already been procured while medical equipment had since been fitted in them.

He said the helpline would have links with five major hospitals — the Aga Khan Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

He said the service would have stations in different areas of the city, adding that spaces under all major flyovers would be allotted for the purpose.—APP