HCM City, Feb. 20 -- Nearly 1,500 cases of out-of-hospital respiratory arrest in Ho Chi Minh City received first aid via phone over the past year, helping to improve the rate of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation by 11%, according to the municipal Health Department.

Director of the department Tang Chi Thuong said that the city now has 44 satellite emergency stations, contributing to the coverage and provision of emergency services to all districts, towns, and Thu Duc city in the southern metropolis. The number of emergency calls via hotline 115 has increased 40 times compared to 2013 and before.

In addition, the emergency force has gradually offered specialised emergency services such as emergency care for mentally-ill patients, t...