Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2010-0003)
The primary objective is to provide guidance to all concerned agencies on the proper design, equipping, staffing, and utilization of ambulance services to protect and save the lives of patients and to enable medical care providers to properly perform their corresponding duties.
This policy applies to all hospitals, health facilities, and all other agencies, whether government or private, providing ambulance services.
An ambulance is defined as a vehicle designed and equipped for transporting sick or injured patients to, from, and between places of treatment by land, sea or air, affording safety and comfort to the patients and avoiding aggravation of illness or injury.
An ambulance driver is a person who possesses a valid professional driver's license, has undergone Basic Life Support Training, and has been issued an appropriate identification card by the Department of Health (DOH).
Ambulances shall not be used for purposes other than transporting patients, medical care providers, blood, and emergency supplies. Specifically, ambulances shall not be used to transport cadavers.
All hospitals are required to have ambulance services unless the Department of Health regulations allow them to contract out these services. They must also comply with DOH national policies, standards, and guidelines, maintain ambulances regularly, and ensure continuous training of ambulance personnel.
The DOH is responsible for preparing the national development plan for ambulance service, developing policies, standards, and guidelines, establishing licensing standards, monitoring compliance, and capability building among others.
Only licensed ambulance service providers are allowed the sole use of the word 'AMBULANCE' to appear on their ambulances.
PhilHealth develops a scheme to include ambulance services as part of reimbursable packages and requires hospitals to comply with DOH continuous quality improvement standards.
Ambulances must be appropriately equipped according to hospital type and level, regularly maintained, properly cleaned, sanitized, and decontaminated before and after transports. Ambulance personnel must be appropriately trained and competent.