Bhubaneswar: In yet another significant step towards free health services, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today flagged off 349 new ambulances for the people of Odisha.
For the first time, so many ambulances have been added to the state’s medical ambulance service at an inauguration ceremony held at the Kalinga Stadium here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that this will help save many more precious lives. He said that our efforts will continue keeping with the principle of ‘Every life is precious’.
Notably, out of the ambulances flagged off today 279 will be deployed in the 108 Ambulance Service. The remaining 70 have been provided to government medical colleges and hospitals and district headquarters hospitals. Forty out of these 70 are life-saving basic ambulances and 30 are life-saving advanced ambulances.
A total of Rs 148.45 crore has been invested towards these 349 ambulances.
After the inclusion of these new ambulances in the 108 ambulance service, the total number of ambulances has increased to 1366. Now, on average, more than 4,000 patients are being shifted to the hospital by the 108 Ambulance Service every day.
The 108 Ambulance Service will become more accessible and convenient after the induction of new ambulances.
Seventy ambulances serving government medical colleges and hospitals and district headquarters hospitals will be used for emergency transfer of patients under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Scheme from Government Hospitals to private Hospitals where necessary and will help meet the urgent needs of other patients at the district level.
5T Chairman VK Pandian was present along with the Chief Minister.
Among others, Health Minister Niranjan Pujari, Departmental Secretary Shalini Pandit and other senior officials were present.
