National Policy Frameworks
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has officially released the comprehensive national frameworks governing Emergency Medical Services in Uganda. The Emergency Care Society of Uganda (ECAU) is proud to have served as a key technical partner during this process. As a member of the National Task Force, ECAU provided critical expert input to draft and refine these guidelines, ensuring they align with international best practices while addressing Uganda’s unique healthcare needs
Emergency Care Systems in Uganda: A Comprehensive Facility-Based Assessment (2024)
This comprehensive report provides an evidence-based analysis of the current state of Emergency, Critical, and Operative (ECO) care across 74 Ugandan health facilities. It identifies critical gaps in infrastructure, human resources, essential medicines, and data management, serving as the essential baseline data required for future system strengthening, policy development, and resource allocation.
National Emergency Medical Services Strategic Plan (2020/21 – 2024/25)
Designed to operationalize the National EMS Policy, this five-year strategic roadmap outlines the specific interventions required to build a regionally coordinated EMS system. It details the establishment of 14 Regional Ambulance Hubs and sets measurable targets to increase on-scene care access to 50% and reduce ambulance response times to under one hour by 2025 through a tiered response system.
National Norms and Standards for Ambulance Vehicles in Uganda (2021)
This document establishes the mandatory technical specifications, medical equipment lists, and staffing requirements for all ambulance vehicles (Road, Boat, and Aeromedical) operating in Uganda. It classifies ambulances into Type A (Patient Transport), Type B (Basic Life Support), and Type C (Advanced Life Support/Mobile ICU), ensuring that every deployed vehicle meets safety and clinical care standards to protect patients during transport
National Emergency Medical Services Policy (2021)
This policy provides the overarching legal and operational framework approved by the Cabinet to establish a functional, integrated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system in Uganda. It outlines thirteen strategic pillars—including leadership, human resources, financing, and infrastructure—to ensure universal access to high-quality pre-hospital and hospital-based emergency care, moving the country from a fragmented model to a coordinated national system
