General Incorporated Association HAWK CSR Hiroshima Medical Ambulance Service (Students’ report on the SDGs)Hiroshima for Global Peace

General Incorporated Association HAWK CSR Hiroshima Medical Ambulance Service (Students’ report on the SDGs)

Calling for the introduction of hydrogen ambulances

Hiroshima Medical Ambulance Service provides a means of transportation for people with lower urgency, for such purposes as hospital admissions or discharges, hospital visits, hospital transfers, or transportation to or from social welfare facilities. With the strong desire of meeting the needs of various patients, the organization transfers patients daily, placing importance on the spirit of putting patients first. The organization is already highly aware of the SDGs, but we thought it could be possible for them to find additional ways to further engage in the SDGs. One specific proposal is to introduce hydrogen ambulances into the ambulances used for transfer. In Japan, Toyota Motor Corporation has successfully developed and begun operating a hydrogen ambulance. Although the initial cost is high, fuel costs are expected to be reduced in the future, and since the vehicle emits no exhaust gas, it is both environmentally and people friendly no matter how many times it is dispatched. We think it is the perfect vehicle for this organization, which has a high awareness of the SDGs.

Equipment inside the vehicle to ensure safe transfer

Enthusiasm to promote the private ambulance service

President TAKAHASHI wishes to contribute to the development of the private ambulance service in Hiroshima to achieve one of the SDGs: “Good health and well-being.” In the Kanto and Kansai regions, private ambulance services have already started operation, and the number of operating companies seems to be increasing. However, in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, this service is still in the process of spreading, and we were told that only one vehicle of this organization in Hiroshima is capable of making inquiries to hospitals about transfer, having medical personnel on board on a permanent basis, and transfer by nurses even if the service is requested on the same day. The Chugoku and Shikoku regions have many hilly and mountainous areas, in which many districts suffer from aging and depopulation, with no access to advanced medical care nearby or no medical institutions. He seeks to develop the business based in Hiroshima, precisely because it is an area where there is a high need for the private ambulance service.

Private ambulances have not yet been widely used in Hiroshima

Private ambulance service for all

Through the interview, we were impressed by the vision of this organization, and came to strongly wish for more public recognition of the private ambulance service. We believe that the low level of recognition of the service is due to the fact that the scale of operations and its influence are still small. Also, the authority the private ambulance service has is weak under current law. Government support is also required to improve recognition, such as the establishment of laws and subsidies that strengthen the authority for such service.
At the same time, we ourselves want to convey the appeal of the private ambulance service to the next generation. We recommend using SNS as an idea to convey the appeal of the private ambulance service. It would be possible to increase recognition by using SNS to advertise the implementation of trial sessions of the private ambulance service for those who pursue a medical career.