The government has initiated the process to launch common telephone number for ambulance service across the country, said the Ministry of Information and Communications.

This is the first time that the government is launching the service, which is into operation only in the Kathmandu valley by the private sector.

For the service as per the new provision, one can dial 112, which rings at a central dispatch centre set up in the ministry before being forwarded to the concerned authority. According to the Ambulance Service Operation Guidelines, 2073, such centre can be established in other places as per need.

Under-Secretary of the ministry Rajib Pokharel said the due process has been forwarded for the service and discussions were underway with the Nepal Telecom Authority.

"The service will be tested from Dhading. It will come into implementation across the country thereafter," he said, adding that they hope that this would set common telephone number for the service across the country, and help people get the service in an easiest way.

Bimal Bista, country director for the Medical Teams International, said they were cooperating with the government to introduce the service under the 'emergency medical services'. Medical Teams International will provide financial help to launch the service test-operation in the first phase. RSS