According to Dr. Mahipala, those who passed G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will be recruited as drivers for this service, he stressed that Indian drivers will not be recruited at any stage. It is clearly mentioned in the Cabinet decision, only two or four Indian IT specialists will be in Sri Lanka in the commencement of the service in order to provide require assistance, Dr. Mahipala added.
At the moment a significant number of heart patients die on their way to the hospital after suffering a sudden heart attack. They die because of the lack of a proper transport mechanism. Some patients further suffer injuries when being transported to a hospital by three wheelers after the accident. The golden hour (first hour after the accident) of an accident victim is wasted on the road. Daily eight Sri Lankans die from accidents. Therefore to have an emergency rapid response ambulance service is a blessing, he said. (CDN)