November 27: Shortage of ambulances is another problem afflicting the health sector. There are around 58 ambulances in the country. Most of them are worn out or do not have the necessary life saving equipment.

Of the 58 ambulances in the country, some are as old as 15 to18 years. Some do not have the necessary living saving support equipment.

This, the health minister Lyonpo Zanglay Dukpa said, is a cause for concern as the old ambulances could pose a risk to the lives of the patients.

To overcome this concern, the Health Ministry has been discussing with the government of India and the UN systems for assistance.

Recently, he attended the 3rd South Asian Conference on Sanitation which was held recently in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the conference, Lyonpo Zanglay Dukpa met with the Minister for Health and Family Affairs of India. He said the government of India has approved to gift around 10 fully equipped ambulances to Bhutan within this year.

The World Health Organization and the UNFPA has also agreed to donate additional ambulances to Bhutan.

The Health Ministry says with the arrival of more than 20 ambulances by June next year, the problem of ambulance shortage will also be resolved.