On February 10th, the Health Department of Ho Chi Minh City announced that developing a professional emergency medical service system is not only an urgent need but also a strategic solution for large, densely populated cities to address healthcare, traffic, and urbanization challenges. The sharp increase in emergency calls through the 115 hotline in Ho Chi Minh City—up 40 times compared to pre-2013 levels—clearly demonstrates the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare quality in the city.
Emergency Calls to 115 Increased 40-Fold
Prior to 2013, emergency services in Ho Chi Minh City were handled solely by the Trưng Vương Hospital with just 5 ambulances and approximately 5,000 calls per year. This number was far too low for the healthcare needs of over 8 million residents. Recognizing this limitation, the healthcare sector recommended establishing the 115 Emergency Center and called for the participation of both public and private hospitals under the satellite emergency station model. Emergency vehicles at the 115 Emergency Center in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Hoàng Lê).
Types of Satellite Emergency Stations
Satellite emergency stations are categorized into three types:
- Type 1: All human resources, equipment, and facilities are managed by participating hospitals.
- Type 2: The 115 Emergency Center and hospitals collaborate on human resources, equipment, and facilities.
- Type 3: All human resources, equipment, and facilities are managed by the 115 Emergency Center, with hospitals providing infrastructure support.
To date, Ho Chi Minh City has established 44 satellite emergency stations, resulting in a 40-fold increase in emergency calls to the 115 hotline since 2013. This indicates that the local emergency medical service has gained significant trust from the community.
Learning from Global EMS Models
The Health Department of Ho Chi Minh City recognizes that effective emergency response requires scientific approaches tailored to practical realities. Between 2013 and 2017, leadership from Ho Chi Minh City organized two missions to Australia to study and learn from their emergency medical services, identifying the “paramedic” model as the most suitable approach. The number of emergency calls to the 115 hotline increased 40-fold since 2013 (Photo: 115 Emergency Center).
Standardization and Professional Training
Following the experiences from Australia, the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City gradually standardized protocols for coordination between pre-hospital and hospital emergency services, enhancing collaboration between hospitals and the 115 Emergency Center. Emergency responders were trained according to standardized guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM).
Additionally, the Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University collaborated with the Saimaa University of Applied Sciences in Finland to successfully establish and enroll students in the “Emergency Medical Technician” (Paramedic nursing) program. This initiative has helped the local emergency response team overcome many obstacles and advance toward greater professionalism.
Effective Solutions
Several specific solutions have proven effective, such as: paramedic uniforms facilitating operations in complex environments; two-wheeled ambulances for quicker access to deep alleyways and crowded events; and specialized mental health and depression emergency models. The health sector in Ho Chi Minh City has gradually standardized protocols for coordination between pre-hospital and hospital emergency services (Illustrative photo: Hoàng Lê).
Strengthening Emergency Coordination Systems
To ensure the efficient operation of the entire emergency medical service system, the 115 Emergency Center, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications, implemented an emergency dispatch software system starting in early 2021. This system optimizes call intake processes, provides real-time analysis of emergency situations, and automatically dispatches ambulances to the most appropriate locations. The 115 hotline system in Ho Chi Minh City has gradually transitioned to digital operations (Photo: 115 Emergency Center).
Tele-Emergency Instructions
In addition, the 115 hotline provides telephone-based emergency instructions, offering reassurance and guidance to callers while waiting for emergency teams. These instructions can even guide remote first aid procedures. Telephone-based CPR and choking rescue instructions have significantly contributed to saving lives. Since its implementation, nearly 1,500 cases of respiratory arrest have been successfully guided via phone, increasing the successful resuscitation rate by 11%.
Plan for Developing Pre-Hospital Emergency Services
On March 26, 2024, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City approved the “Development of Pre-Hospital Emergency Services towards Professionalism for the 2024-2030 period.” The plan aims to establish three specialized medical centers within three medical clusters: the 115 Emergency Center in the Tan Kien medical cluster (Binh Chanh); the 115 Emergency Center in the central medical cluster; and the 115 Emergency Center in Thu Duc City.
Beyond road-based emergency services, Ho Chi Minh City will explore air and water ambulance services. Simultaneously, the emergency response and dispatch system will continue to be upgraded with AI integration, optimizing resource allocation and predicting emergency needs.
The 2023 Medical Examination and Treatment Law mandates that pre-hospital emergency responders must hold a professional certification. This will be a crucial foundation for comprehensive development in emergency services, from training to deployment and organizational structure.
References:
- https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/thay-gi-khi-cuoc-goi-cap-cuu-115-o-tphcm-tang-gap-40-lan-so-voi-truoc-day-20250210122318514.htm
- Report from the Health Department of Ho Chi Minh City on the pre-hospital emergency system.
