Penang says it is the only state meeting the ambulance response target, crediting community responders
1 November 2026 · News · Hospitals & specialist centres
Penang's health exco says 57.6% of the state's most urgent emergency calls from January to September 2026 got an ambulance on scene within 15 minutes, above the national 50% benchmark, which Malaysia as a whole missed last year at 34.1%. He credits neighbourhood-based volunteer responders and wants a federal Good Samaritan law to protect them.
The figures
The Ministry of Health's benchmark is that at least half of Priority 1 (critical) emergency calls should have an ambulance on scene within 15 minutes. In the Dewan Rakyat on 12 October, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the national result last year was 34.1%, below that benchmark, and that the 999 system (NG-MERS) and ambulance capacity were being strengthened.
Speaking to CodeBlue on 27 October, Penang state executive councillor for health Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said Penang reached 57.6% between January and September 2026, and described it as the only state meeting the target. The figure was given by the state; this site has not seen an independent audit of it.
How the Penang model works
Gooi credited community emergency response groups that began during the Covid-19 pandemic and stayed active. Because volunteers are based in neighbourhoods, they can reach a caller sooner than an ambulance leaving a hospital. They are trained in basic emergency response, supported by emergency physicians, raise their own funds for vehicles, and in some cases use motorcycles to beat traffic.
These groups are not licensed under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. Gooi called for a federal Good Samaritan Act to protect responders from legal risk and said MOH had told the state such a bill is being prepared. He also pointed to 273 public-access defibrillators (AEDs) across Penang, and local council rules requiring AEDs in private premises.
What families can take from this
Response times vary widely by state and by area. For families caring for someone with a known heart condition or a frail elderly parent, it helps to plan ahead rather than rely on any one service.
- Know that 999 is the emergency number, and keep the address and nearest landmark ready to give the call taker.
- Find out where the nearest public AED is at home, work and your parents' home.
- If you use a private hospital's ambulance, ask in advance what it charges and how far it covers.
Related rankings and guides
Sources
- Penang hits ambulance response target with community responders — CodeBlue
- Ambulance response times for critical cases falling short, says Dr Dzul — The Star
Editorial summary written by Best Malaysia Healthcare. Not medical, legal or financial advice; check the original sources.