a) Free State Province: There is an existing contract between the Provincial EMS and Buthelezi Ambulance Service.
North West Province: Private Emergency Medical Services are contracted for provision of services only when there are outstanding emergency calls.
b) (i) Free State Province: The contract with Buthelezi Ambulance Service is for three years, which commenced on 1 December 2013.
North West Province: The MOU with the private Emergency Medical Services is for a year, which is renewed on a yearly basis.
(ii) Free State Province: Buthelezi Ambulance Service is mainly used for inter-hospital transfers and benefits include:
North West Province: The MOU states that the private service will be used as and when the need arises and the services are rendered at the Uniformed Patient Fee Schedule rates.
The main benefit is that the response time to the Priority 1 patient (emergency) has improved.
END.