The Negros Occidental provincial government has purchased six negative pressure ambulances for the transport of patients suffering from severe COVID-19 and other ailments, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, October 25.
The ambulances will form part of the Negros Occidental 911 Quick Response Service to be stationed in four or five provincial government-run hospitals, he said.
Lacson said they are looking at the hospitals in Silay City, Cadiz City, Valladolid, La Carlota City and Kabankaan City.
“The ambulances are expensive but we are saving lives here so we cannot consider the cost anymore,” he said.
Negative pressure ambulances are used for the transfer of patients with highly infectious diseases.
The ambulances cost P3.5 million each for a total of P21 million, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
The ambulances aside from having negative pressure bags, also have all the basic equipment for life support and an exhaust system for the safety of responders, he said.
Lacson, Diaz, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer and Provincial Incident Management Team Commander Zeaphard Caelian inspected the ambulances at the Capitol grounds in Bacolod City Monday.
The ambulances aside from transporting COVID-19 patients will also be used for regular rescue and emergency work, Lacson said.*