A new law compelling ambulance and medical response companies to meet a minimum criteria or face the axe is being rolled out across the Eastern Cape.
The law, known as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Regulations 2017, is part of a national plan to clamp down on medical service providers and ensure industry compliance.
The regulations govern both state and private emergency medical services to ensure a standardised minimum level of safe treatment.
The roll-out is in full swing throughout the province, targeting private providers first before moving on to stateowned medical responders.
Several private providers have welcomed the regulations, stating that it ensures a high minimal operational standard which could save lives.
The department of health’s licensing unit – which formed an inspectorate division – is mandated to carry out inspections on private and state ambulances.
Companies or medics who flout the new law could be fined up to R500,000 or jailed for up to five years, or in some cases, both.
Several medical response companies across the province, and recently in the Bay, have already been inspected, with more inspections taking place over the next few months.
Included in the regulations is the inspection of the response vehicles and ambulances, the qualifications of the staff working in the field as well as ensuring the correct specialised equipment is fitted into the vehicles.
The regulations also compel companies to enforce recordkeeping systems, monitor response time, ensure medics wear the correct uniforms and that responders meet a certain level of training for the rescue vehicles that they work on.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha said inspections began in January and were being rolled out across the province in different districts.
“The inspectors are busy in the western region – Sarah Baartman and Nelson Mandela Bay,” he said.
“We are also driven by the number of applicants so the two areas are obviously a priority as they have many private service providers.”
Sicwetsha said there were 84 government EMS stations in eight districts in the province.
“The department received 38 applications from private providers,” he said.
“It is envisaged that all outstanding private services will have been dealt with by May 7 [Tuesday] and [we will then] immediately proceed with state ambulances.”
Sicwetsha said those who failed the inspection had between one and three months to address compliance issues.
While no service has yet been suspended or shut down, Sicwetsha said the inspections were still ongoing.
“There is a lot of work to be done to prepare for full compliance,” he said.
“The major gaps are likely to be on infrastructure and adequately skilled personnel in some of the stations, private and public.
“It guarantees a certain level of improved standard and quality of service.”
Gardmed Ambulance Service owner Dave Gardner, who owns several ambulances operating across the province, welcomed the regulations.
“This is a move in the right direction in terms of ensuring compliance across the industry and ultimately saving lives.
“This gives the department more power and oversight to ensure minimum standards are complied with,” he said.
“The regulations are very intense and increase the running costs as certain equipment has to be purchased per vehicle.”
Gardner said they had to do minor building alterations to the specifications of the regulations and were still undergoing inspections.
“The inspections are very detailed and include checking every vehicle, the building, staff contracts and even training.
“There are some companies that will never be able to comply with this. It is very costly to meet the requirements but it is a good level for the industry.
“It means that if you need help, you can be assured the provider who responds will meet requirements – which has never been the case in the past,” he said.
Relay EMS operations manager Richard Moodie said governance in the industry was long overdue.
“We feel that the governance and minimum compliance standards has been lacking in the industry.
“We have had our inspections and are very happy with the professionalism and level of expertise this unit has shown,” he said.
“It is very efficient and has a great level of expertise.”
Moodie said by ensuring protocols were in place, it meant a quicker response time and quality of care for those in need of help.
SA Private Ambulance and Emergency Services’ Association (Sapaesa) chief executive Oliver Wright said the regulations were being rolled out nationally.
“Some provinces are at a fairly advanced stage already while others have just started, and this would ultimately ensure good and efficient industry service.
“We support this regulation. There have been a number of substandard providers and this seeks to ensure everyone adheres to the minimum criteria.”
Asked how it was being received by members, Wright said: “It seems to be rather well received.”