SHOAIB SHAIKH
PANJIM: With more than 30 percent of the ambulances not in operation and shortage of well-equipped ambulances, the 108 ambulance services in the State are in need of emergency treatment to provide the people of Goa with pre-hospital emergency medical services.
The GVK-EMRI emergency ambulance services, popularly known as 108 services, have taken up a ‘swachh’ mission and scrapped 12 ambulance vans from its fleet and the government has provided 9 new ambulances.
Amidst controversies of non-functional and badly maintained ambulances affecting prompt services, the management claims that the services are prompt.
However, the 108 employees union, which has been constantly at logger heads with the management for poor facilities and ill maintenance of the ambulances, has alleged that the ambulances had to be scrapped due to poor maintenance.
Incidentally, most of the ambulances of the 108 service are not equipped with oxygen cylinders and emergency medical equipments such as ECG machines.
Speaking to Herald, the Associate Partner of GVK-EMRI, Gajesh Lamgaonkar said the company is taking measures towards the safety of the patients and well-being of the staff. When questioned on the internal conditions of the ambulance, he acknowledged that the ambulances are not equipped with air-conditioners and the required emergency machineries.
Asked about the present status of the ambulances, he said, “On average 26-27 ambulances are on road across the state at different locations every day. 12 old ambulances were scrapped considering the age, condition and kilometers travelled by the ambulances and handed over to PWD in coordination with DHS. Now we have received 9 ambulances from Government of Goa, which are sent for fabrication.”
As per the contract, the service provider is supposed to operate 38 ambulances in the state at 34 locations.
However, on average less than 25 ambulances cater to 34 locations during the day, which is further reduced during the night.
According to the available data from the management, during the last six months from October 2016 to March this year, the ambulance services has been catering to around 19,200 calls every month, 640 calls daily.
