Cambodia's Health Ministry yesterday chastised ambulance drivers for speeding and ordered all of them to get driver’s licences.

“Most drivers violated the traffic law, such as over-speeding and causing accidents with commuters, [with] many dead and injured,” the ministry’s directive reads.

“The ministry instructs the heads of hospitals and owners of health services to strengthen the management on ambulance drivers by recruiting drivers who have a driving licence, experience, [and who are] gentle and respectful.”

Run Rath Veasna, director of the Traffic Police Department, said he did not have exact figures, “but there were accidents caused by ambulances driven in order to get ahead of the other [traffic], which was done not according to law”.

In April, three people were killed by an ambulance transporting a victim from Kratie province to Phnom Penh.

Chhneang Sovutha, chief of Kratie Provincial Health Department, said all drivers his department had recruited were licensed.

“We want to save people’s lives, but at the same time we have to think about the safety for both victims and the people,” he said.