The St John Ambulance Malaysia’s (SJAM) former commander-in-chief Dr Low Bin Tick told FMT that a standard ambulance usually cost around RM100,000.

The more advanced bariatric ambulances may cost RM1 million, he said.

According to a report in The Sun Daily, health ministry secretary-general Dr Chen Chaw Min said the 500 ambulances were being bought at a cost of RM225.2 million, with half of them fully equipped with the latest medical equipment.

Some of the ambulances were equipped with advanced cardiac care devices, portable ventilators, portable medical suction units, foldable stretchers with safety belts, syringe perfusion pumps and vital sign monitors, he said.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said the distribution of the ambulances began early this month and will be completed by September next year.

Low regretted that ambulance drivers refused to be trained on saving lives because they were registered only as drivers.

“This is because they are not given extra allowances to learn new skills and work as first responders,” said Low.

A medical assistant normally accompanies the driver when an ambulance responds to an emergency call.

Low said the more expensive-type of bariatric ambulances allowed the transportation of overweight patients.

“These ambulances cost almost RM1 million. They can hold patients up to 350kg,” said Low.

He said presently SJAM possessed two such ambulances.

The 500 new ambulances will be distributed to hospitals around Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor, as well as hospitals and clinics in Sabah and Sarawak, where certain old ambulances will be replaced.

Subramaniam said the new fleet of ambulances would be wide-bodied, allowing patients to feel more comfortable, especially during long-distance rides.

He said the narrow-bodied ambulances would be an advantage during short-distance rides as well as when negotiating traffic during road congestion.