Need for an emergency communication system Ordinary telephone systems get overloaded when great numbers of people place calls into and out, following disasters. Therefore a reliable “fail safe” communication system is a vital tool health care system especially following disasters. Fast communication is a vital in managing critical care patients.

VHF Radio System based on Gampaha District General Hospital VHF radio communication equipments are provided to the ambulances working for District General Hospital, Gampaha and the ambulances from four other peripheral hospitals Divulapitiya, Minuwangoa, Biyagama and Dompe. This system make it easy to contact any ambulance mobiling within the Gampaha district and adjoining Colombo District at any moment without any delay. The system has been proven its usefulness immediately following disasters and even during other emergencies to find an ambulances quickly to transport the critical patients.

Amateur Radio Serving Health Service…. The project was an idea came from a Amateur radio operator (4S7HG), and a medical doctor who is working for state health sector. The project was funded by the Medical Amateur Radio Council of the USA. Amateur radio has found a simple but very sustainable solution to the communication gap between the ambulance service and health care centers, saving lives.

Hemantha Gamage (MBBS, MSc) 148/4c, Sooriya Mawatha, Battramulla. Sri Lanka / Amateur Radio Call Sign – 4S7HG