AN investigation has been ordered into 10 Health Ministry ambulances that have been sitting idle for months at Labasa’s Ro Qomate building.
Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said there would be a full audit and report on why the vehicles have not been deployed.
“Once the investigation is complete, these ambulances must either be returned to service, properly stored, or disposed of according to government procedures,” he said.
The ambulances are believed to have been previously used at Savusavu, Labasa, and Nabouwalu hospitals.
He said an audit would determine whether the ambulances were properly assessed by the board of survey, written off, or left in the system due to administrative oversight.
“All government vehicles must follow proper procedures before being retired or removed,” Mr Ravunawa said.
He said there were proper procedures that needed to be followed before any government vehicle was written off.
“The divisional office and the ambulance coordinator in the North need to either remove, auction, or store these vehicles properly.”
Asked by this newspaper as to how much had gone to waste as they were no longer being used, Mr Ravunawa said this would be determined at the conclusion of the audit and investigation.
“Even though more than 10 ambulances were donated last year by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, many areas still lack reliable emergency vehicles.
“Some ambulances sent to Viti Levu are not suitable for the North due to road conditions, so proper deployment is essential.”
