Yayasan Sabah Paramedic & Ambulance Service Division (formerly known as PAYS or Perkhidmatan Ambulans Yayasan Sabah) was launched in June, 1980. The initial programmes of PAYS were to provide a 24-hour ambulance service for the sick and injured victims as well as standby duties to the general public within the vicinity of Kota Kinabalu City area. Shortly after that, a training unit was established to cater for First Aid Courses targeted mainly to the general public and other interested agencies, and it was placed under the jurisdiction of PAYS.

The main objective of the division is to complement and supplement the ambulance services of the State Medical Service and other related non-governmental bodies. Other objectives are to provide adequately equipped ambulances and qualified trained ambulance personnel for the sick and the injured.

To date, this Division has handled a total of 26,668 cases (up to December, 2004). The Ambulance Service Operation Centre is located at Yayasan Sabah Complex. It can be reached through the Emergency Line (Tel: 088-326655). It operates only during office hours from 0800 to 1639 hours (Monday to Friday), 0800 to 1239 hours (Saturday) and is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

As for the Division’s programs for year 2005, it will be involved in many international events such as Kota Kinabalu City 5th Year Celebrations 2005, Mt.Kinabalu International Climbathon 2005, Mt.Kinabalu Mt Bike Challenge 2005, the Roll-Royce Enhusiasts’ Club Tour of Borneo, State level Pesta Kaamatan 2005, and many other events held locally by various organizations and agencies.

The Paramedic and Ambulance Service Divison is introducing a new programme for the year 2005 called “First Aid & Safety Awareness Programme”. This is a joint programme undertaken by Yayasan Sabah and the Sabah State Education Department with the objectives of promoting the safety and health awareness, as well as the importance of first aid knowledge among school children. The programme will commence in March 2005 and will be extended to all areas throughout Sabah Thereafter.