The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has invested in excess of $1 million in five “state-of-the-art” vehicles that should arrive by the summer.
The purchase, part of a crucial update to the aging fleet, is in tandem with a general revamp of the authority’s zoning and response requirements.
The announcement comes amid controversy concerning ambulances in New Providence, with occasional reports of vehicles breaking down while in the middle of emergency calls.
In fact, back in November, PHA said among its existing fleet of 13 vehicles, just two were fully operational.
Herbert Brown, the managing director at PHA, confirmed to Guardian Business the new ambulances are officially on order and will arrive in July.
According to Brown, five new ambulances allow nurses and physicians at the hospital to see, monitor and treat patients while en route.
The system will be installed with collaboration from the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).
The managing director also told Guardian Business that a number of staff at the PHA are set to write the National Registry Exam on March 14 and March 17. For the first time ever, an international representative is coming to The Bahamas to administer the test and provide accreditation.
Brown said those that pass will then be on par with paramedics and EMTs in North America.
