The Interior Ministry has declined to station an ambulance permanently at the Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Health Centre in Barbar, citing the potential to delay emergency responses in other areas. The ministry stated that the centre recorded 801 ambulance calls in 2025, which it described as "just 4.5 pc of the Northern Governorate total." The Interior Ministry argued that "tying up one vehicle there could slow help elsewhere." It added that "the 801 calls recorded by the centre in 2025 did not justify keeping an ambulance there solely for its use," and that "primary healthcare centres look at providing a separate vehicle to carry patients whose cases are classed as ‘non-emergencies’."
Ministry's Rationale for Rejection
The Interior Ministry clarified its decision not to station an ambulance permanently at the Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Health Centre by citing statistics and operational concerns. The ministry stated that the centre recorded 801 ambulance calls in 2025, which constituted "just 4.5 pc of the Northern Governorate total." A ministry spokesperson explained that "the 801 calls recorded by the centre in 2025 did not justify keeping an ambulance there solely for its use," further noting that "tying up one vehicle there could slow help elsewhere." The ministry also noted that "Keeping one of them at the health centre could mean longer waits for emergency calls elsewhere, it said."
In response to the demand for non-emergency patient transport, the Interior Ministry suggested an alternative approach. It recommended that "primary healthcare centres look at providing a separate vehicle to carry patients whose cases are classed as ‘non-emergencies’." This proposal aims to address patient transportation needs without impacting the availability of emergency ambulance services for critical incidents across the region.
Council and Doctor's Proposal
The Northern Municipal Council unanimously endorsed Dr. Shubber Al Wadaei’s proposal for an on-site ambulance during its April meeting. Dr. Al Wadaei advocated for the permanent stationing of an ambulance at the Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Health Centre, asserting that proximity could significantly reduce response times for critical medical situations. He stated that "having an ambulance close by could shave key minutes off the time taken to deal with strokes, fainting, accidents and other serious cases."
Dr. Al Wadaei emphasized the importance of rapid intervention, noting that "the first few minutes in such cases could be decisive in saving a patient’s life or preventing serious complications." He noted the health centre's operational context, explaining that "the centre sees large numbers of people from Barbar and surrounding areas and can face sudden medical cases at any time." An ambulance stationed at the facility, Dr. Al Wadaei added, "would also give patients and health workers greater peace of mind and allow urgent cases to be taken to hospital without waiting for a vehicle to come from another area."
Broader Context and Alternatives
Nine National Ambulance vehicles are already deployed to cover Barbar, its surrounding villages, and the broader Northern Governorate. This existing deployment forms part of the current emergency response strategy for the region. The Ministry's decision to not station an additional ambulance permanently at the Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Health Centre is based on its assessment of current resource allocation and operational efficiency across the governorate. The vehicles are strategically positioned to ensure coverage and timely response to emergencies throughout the designated areas. This approach aims to optimize the availability of emergency services by ensuring that ambulances are not concentrated in one location but are distributed to serve a wider geographical span, thereby minimizing response times for a diverse range of incidents. The current system is designed to manage the emergency call volume across the entire Northern Governorate effectively.
