ITANAGAR, 16 Dec: Health minister Biyuram Wahge stressed on providing “free and accessible ambulance service to even the last person, considering the remoteness and tough terrain of the state.”
Chairing a meeting to take stock of the operation of the 108 emergency response ambulance services (ERAS) in the state here on Sunday, the minister urged the representatives of the 108 ERAS service providers to use their experience and expertise to improve their services in Arunachal Pradesh.
The minister said that stringent action, including immediate termination from service, will be taken against any employee of 108 ambulances found to be in negligence of duty or indulging in unlawful activity.
“The government has resolved to provide the best medical care services to every citizen – even to those in the remotest areas of the state – and in this endeavour has partnered with the EMRIGHS to provide 108 free emergency ambulance services,” he said.
The 108 ERAS under the Emergency Medical Response Institute Green Health Services (EMRIGHS) has provided free ambulance service to 24,000 patients since their launch in June 2021.
EMRIGHS national head (operation) Deepankar Choudhury said that “fitness of the employees of the fleet of 108 ambulance services is very important; hence all employees of EMRIGHS will undergo thorough medical check every six months, reports of which shall be shared with the state health department.”
The meeting was also attended by NHM mission director Marge Sora, OSD to health minister Dr. Gomi Basar, health services deputy director Dr. Kipa Tuglik, public private partnership state nodal officer Dr. Bombei Tayeng Toko, EMRIGHS state head Khoda Tabin, and others.
