St John's move to pull some ambulances off the road has shone a light on our public health system. 

The service is aiming to rein in costs for when a worker is sick or on leave. 

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking that she doesn't understand why a core health service isn't publicly funded. 

She says ambulances are critical, and as a country we don't fund the service but instead we've made it charitable with a government top up. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

• St John pulls ambulances off the road amidst funding issues
• Ambulance Association warns St John's cost-cutting puts lives at risk