People not using the right toll-free numbers to avail themselves of the services are clogging the phone lines. Same is the case with the hotline for emergency ambulance services. Health Help Centre in Thimphu has been receiving calls asking for essentials, enquiries from stranded people and also for non-emergency medical advice.
There are 17 agents answering toll-free 112, 2121 and 6060. Yesterday alone, hotline 112 for emergency ambulance services received almost 2,000 calls while hotline for elderly citizen 6060 received more than 1,300 calls. Toll-free for queries related to COVID-19, 2121 received more than 1,200 calls. Majority of the calls were for medical refills.
According to Tashi Tshomo from the Hotline Team at the Health Ministry, the general public is not using the right hotline for the right purpose. “112 is for emergency ambulance services and people requiring critical need, life-saving interventions where we need to transfer them to hospitals. But when people call up 112 to ask for vegetable services, thromde services, then people actually requiring genuine services cannot really call up to 112 to because the lines are clogged,” she said.
There are also two doctors at the centre providing health advice and prescribing medication over the phone. The doctors send a prescription copy to the pharmacy at the National Referral Hospital and medicines are delivered to the patients.
“With so many issues coming up with 112 and people complaining about not getting connected to 112, we have additionally instituted two doctors on shift so that they respond to people’s need. For example who call up teleconsultation but do not require immediate referral to hospital,” she added.
Health officials say most people who need ambulance service are not aware that they have to dial an extension on the keypad to avail the services.
When the health officials answer the calls, the callers have to press 1 for emergency ambulance services and press 2 for other health advice.
Sangay Chezom
