Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam was forced to wait for 15 minutes before being sent to the Alor Gajah Hospital in a Projek Penyelenggaraan Lebuhraya Bhd (Propel) vehicle, following a collision at the south-bound 220.6km North-South Expressway on Wednesday night.

The MIC deputy president however, saw a 'positive picture' in the delay to the hospital after his official car had collided with a lorry about 8pm.

Based on his personal experience last night, he felt it was imperative the ministry look into ways to cooperate with Propel to provide medical aid to victims of accidents in the expressway before they are sent to the nearest hospital.

"That cooperation should involve emergency aid training and basic medical equipment for Propel staff.

"The move is one solution for providing early emergency aid when a mishap takes place and the ambulance does not come (on time) to the scene," he told a press conference at the Melaka Hospital on Thursday today, where he was warded.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam sustained a minor injury in the neck while his bodyguard was seriously hurt when the car they were travelling in was involved in an accident at KM220 of the North-South Expressway near Pedas-Linggi tonight.

Melaka police chief Datuk Chua Ghee Lye said based on the preliminary findings, the car was believed to have knocked into the back of a lorry which suddenly switched lanes from the middle to the right lane in the 8pm incident.

"Dr Subramaniam's injury is not serious but his bodyguard suffered abdomeninal injuries and is still in the operating theatre of the Melaka General Hospital (MGH) at the moment.

"They were initially given treatment at the Alor Gajah hospital before being transferred to MGH," he told reporters on Thursday night.

He added that the driver of the car was not hurt and that Dr Subramaniam would be kept at MGH overnight as a precautionary measure.

Chuah said the lorry involved had driven off from the accident scene and police were tracing the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Melaka MIC chairman Datuk M.S Mahadevan said Dr Subramaniam was on his way to Melaka to attend a meeting on the MIC General Assembly on Nov 30 here.

The ambulance which brought Dr Subramaniam arrived at MGH at 11.10pm and he was conscious with neck braces to support his injured neck.

Melaka Yang Dipertua Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob visited the victims at the the hospital.