MALAYSIA NEEDS INTEGRATED MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is in need of a more systematic integrated medical response system to tackle serious road accidents, a leading trauma expert said Monday.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital Emergency and Trauma Department Head Prof Dr Abu Hassan
Asaari Abdullah said the system, which can be coordinated by the National
Security Council, must link all relevant agencies such as the Fire and Rescue
Department, Police, Civil Defence Department and hospitals.

He said the first thing to do was coordinate all the agencies and get more
ambulances.

"We hope to create a new organisation of ambulance services which
is not based on the hospital, but is instead independent," he told reporters after
witnessing a demonstration on rescuing road accident victims here.

The demonstration, which involved various agencies including the Fire and Rescue
Department and the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, was held in conjunction with the
three-day International Conference on Pre-Hospital Treatment and Emergency
Communication System 2010 which started Monday.

Also present to watch the demonstration was Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad
Shabery Cheek.

Abu Hassan said that road accidents usually resulted in traffic congestion which
made it difficult for the rescue team to arrive at the scene and send the victim
to the hospital.

He added that the integrated system would allow victims to receive immediate
on-the-spot treatment.
--BERNAMA