The Vitebsk region's healthcare system fleet has been replenished with the first Belarusian ambulance

July 14, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotovetov - BELTA /. The fleet of the Vitebsk region's healthcare system has been replenished with the first domestic ambulance, produced by the FEZ "Vitebsk" resident "Grandiscar" LLC. This gift to Vitebsk medics in honor of the 20th anniversary of the international festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" was made by the Belarusian-Russian JV. This was announced today at the car handover ceremony by the director of "Grandiscar" Yuri Lyubimov, BELTA correspondent reports.

The ambulance, built on the basis of the Ford Transit chassis, is designed as a long-distance vehicle for transporting seriously ill patients over long distances. Its configuration includes a large oxygen supply on board, as well as the possibility of equipping it with any necessary equipment. The vehicle possesses one of the important characteristics for this type of vehicle - comfort for both medical staff and patients.

"The donation of an ambulance to the healthcare system of the Vitebsk region once again emphasizes the interest and seriousness of the founders' intentions for developing business in Belarus and implementing investment projects in the Vitebsk region," said Yuri Lyubimov.

Currently, the Vitebsk region's ambulance service uses 165 vehicles, about 80% of which are UAZ cars, which are morally outdated in terms of comfort. According to Viktor Gomonov, the chief freelance specialist for ambulance services at the regional executive committee's healthcare department, the need to update the fleet is relevant for the entire regional ambulance service. "Today, a modern, equipped resuscitation vehicle allows a patient to be transported from any remote point in the region to a highly specialized department of a medical institution within 1-1.5 hours," noted Viktor Gomonov.

The investment project of SOOO "Grandiscar" envisages the creation of a special-purpose vehicle production facility with an annual capacity of up to 5 thousand vehicles at one of the sites of the FEZ "Vitebsk" in the regional center. For these purposes, the Belarusian-Russian tandem of founders plans to invest about $15 million over five years. The investors have organized the production of special equipment in leased premises. In parallel, it is planned to build their own plant with a total area of about 5 thousand sq.m, which is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2012.

The production process is based on the technology of large-node assembly of various modifications of vehicle bodies. Grandiscar's production portfolio includes the production of ambulances, special vehicles for law enforcement agencies, minibuses, and a number of other configurations based on Volkswagen and Ford chassis, and in the future, a number of other foreign and Belarusian automotive brands. In 2011, Grandiscar expects to produce about 300 vehicles, mainly for Belarusian customers. In addition to Belarus, the company intends to enter the Russian and CIS markets.-0-