Bishkek ambulance service receives major fleet upgrade

The Bishkek Emergency Medicine Center is undergoing its most significant fleet expansion to date, with the addition of 60 new ambulances. Egor Borisov, the center's head, announced the upgrade on social media, addressing public concerns that the existing ambulances were out of service.

Borisov clarified that the vehicles seen were the new additions, currently undergoing inspection and preparation before being handed over for service. He assured the public that these ambulances would soon be operational, providing essential emergency medical assistance to the population. The center receives approximately 1,500 calls daily, with ambulance crews undertaking around 500 trips.

The upgrade comes as the demand for ambulance services in Bishkek has been steadily increasing, with call volumes rising by an average of 15 percent annually. Compounding the issue is the severely deteriorated state of the current fleet, where two-thirds of the vehicles have surpassed their service life. The situation has been further strained by an administrative reform that incorporated nearby settlements into Bishkek, expanding the city's boundaries and population.

Given the city's expanded boundaries and population, the actual need for ambulance crews is estimated at around 150. Currently, fewer than one-third of this requirement are operational daily, with only 42–43 crews and a similar number of vehicles serving the city. The arrival of the 60 new ambulances is a critical step towards alleviating this strain and improving emergency response capabilities.

“

No. These are 60 new ambulances that we are receiving for work in Bishkek. The vehicles are currently undergoing inspection and preparation before being handed over. After that, they will be handed over and will provide emergency medical assistance to the population. So the ambulances have not been taken out of service.