NEWS FEATURE - SAMU Services: Saving Lives Through Rapid Emergency Response in Mauritius

In moments of crisis, every second counts. Whether responding to a severe road accident, a cardiac arrest, a drowning incident or a critical medical emergency at home, the Service d’Aide Médicale d’Urgence (SAMU) remains at the frontline of emergency healthcare delivery in Mauritius. Since its establishment in 1997 by the Ministry of Health and Wellness with the support of the French Government, SAMU has evolved into a highly specialised emergency medical service dedicated to preserving lives through rapid intervention and advanced pre-hospital care.

Operating round the clock through the national emergency hotline 114, SAMU has become an indispensable pillar of the country’s healthcare system. According to the Director of Emergency Services, Dr Prittisingh Bossoondyal, a well-supported and adequately resourced SAMU service is essential for saving lives and reinforcing the national emergency healthcare framework.

“Emergency medicine is about rapid assessment, timely intervention and coordinated action,” said Dr Bossoondyal. “SAMU provides advanced emergency medical care before the patient even reaches the hospital, which can make the difference between life and death,” she recalled.

A national emergency response system

SAMU operates in close collaboration with both the Police and Fire and Rescue Services to ensure swift and coordinated responses during emergencies. The 114 hotline receives approximately 2,000 calls every 24 hours, including both incoming and outgoing communications.

At the heart of the system is the 114 Control Room, which functions continuously on a 24-hour basis. One doctor remains on duty at all times and oversees the dispatch of the 11 SAMU teams stationed across the country. Supporting the doctor are six trained permanenciers per shift, responsible for receiving calls, gathering information and conducting the initial triage of emergencies.

When a call is received, the permanencier records essential details such as the caller’s location, contact number and the nature of the emergency. If the case is assessed as urgent and life-threatening, the doctor on duty immediately provides medical guidance over the phone and approves the dispatch of a SAMU team, provided one is available.

In situations where all SAMU teams are already engaged, urgent but non-life-threatening cases are placed on pending status until a team becomes available. However, for critical emergencies where no SAMU team is immediately free, alternative measures are rapidly implemented. Hospital ambulances may be mobilised to transport the patient for urgent hospital care, while assistance from the Police may also be sought when necessary.

Advanced Life Support ambulances

Unlike ordinary ambulances, SAMU ambulances are fully equipped Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicles capable of delivering sophisticated emergency medical care directly on the spot.

Each SAMU ambulance is staffed by a highly trained emergency team comprising one emergency doctor, two nursing officers and a driver trained in emergency care. These teams are equipped to stabilise critically ill patients and initiate advanced lifesaving procedures before hospital admission.

The SAMU fleet currently comprises 11 ALS ambulances distributed strategically across Mauritius. Two ambulances are allocated to each of the five regional hospitals, while one ambulance is permanently stationed at the New Souillac Hospital.

To ensure continuous coverage, SAMU teams operate on a rotational basis throughout the day and night. During weekdays, 11 teams are deployed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by seven teams from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and six teams overnight until 9 a.m. the next morning. Similar arrangements are maintained during weekends and public holidays to guarantee uninterrupted emergency response services.

Managing critical emergencies

According to Dr Bossoondyal, SAMU is specifically designed to handle severe and life-threatening emergencies requiring rapid medical intervention. These include cardiorespiratory arrest, acute coronary syndromes, strokes, acute heart failure, severe road accidents, major trauma, status asthmaticus, status epilepticus, coma, severe hypoglycaemia, drowning incidents, severe burns and emergency home deliveries.

Over the years, SAMU has played a critical role in improving the survival chances of patients by ensuring that medical care begins immediately at the site of the emergency rather than only upon arrival at hospital.

Dr Bossoondyal pointed out that SAMU doctors are now involved in the management of critical patients attending the Trauma and Emergency Units of regional hospitals. This integration ensures that critically ill patients arriving directly at hospitals receive the same high level of emergency care as those attended to by SAMU teams in the field.

Beyond emergencies: specialised medical transfers

In addition to responding to emergencies, SAMU performs a wide range of specialised secondary transfers. These include inter-hospital transfers for CT scans, MRI investigations, cardiac procedures such as Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and transfers to specialised institutions such as ENT Hospital, the Mauritius Eye Hospital, the National Cancer Centre, the Burns Unit, the Hyperbaric Unit and the Spine Unit.

SAMU also transfers patients from primary health care centres (Area Health Centres, Community Health Centres and mediclinics) and private clinics to hospitals. It also provides assistance to patients travelling abroad for treatment through airport transfers. The team also ensures the reception and transport of patients arriving from Rodrigues or Agaléga for specialised care in Mauritius.

Furthermore, SAMU teams regularly provide medical coverage during national events, ceremonies and large public gatherings where rapid medical intervention may be required.

Human resources at the core

The effectiveness of SAMU relies heavily on the dedication and expertise of its personnel. The service currently comprises 27 emergency physicians and 30 postgraduate doctors undergoing specialised training, expected to complete their studies by 2027.

Supporting them are 72 nursing personnel deployed nationally across SAMU and ambulance services, 24 permanenciers and 23 trained drivers. Continuous training and skills development remain central to maintaining high standards of emergency medical care.

Complementary role of hospital ambulances

It is worth noting that not all calls received through the 114 hotline require advanced medical intervention. Non-urgent requests are generally referred to hospital transport ambulances, commonly known as “Non-Medicaliser” or normal ambulances.

These ambulances are staffed by a driver and a trained attendant and are primarily used for the transfer of physically disabled patients for medical appointments, haemodialysis patients, discharged patients returning home, and stable patients requiring routine transfers to specialised institutions.

Normal ambulances may also be mobilised for emergency cases during periods when SAMU teams are unavailable. However, unlike SAMU ambulances, these vehicles are supervised directly by hospital administrations rather than the 114 Control Room.

A service built on rapid response and compassion

Behind every emergency call lies a human story — a family in distress, a patient struggling to survive, or a victim awaiting urgent assistance. SAMU’s mission extends beyond medical intervention; it is also about providing reassurance, compassion and hope during some of the most critical moments in people’s lives.

Dr Bossoondyal observed that over nearly three decades, SAMU has become a symbol of rapid emergency care and national solidarity. “As Mauritius continues to modernise its healthcare infrastructure, strengthening emergency medical services remains a key priority to ensure that every citizen has access to timely and quality care when it matters most”, she added.

Through the dedication of its medical teams, the efficiency of its coordination system and the continued support of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, SAMU continues to stand as a vital lifeline for the population — ready at all times to answer the call for help.

29 May 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

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Topics: Health