PANJIM: Within a few days of taking over as the Health minister, Vishwajit Rane has begun to act tough against indisciplined staffers. The State Health Department late on Saturday suspended 20 staffers attached to the 108-emergency ambulance services, following a surprise inspection by the minister.
Rane on Friday night conducted a surprise inspection along with the Health Department officials of various 108 ambulances which are stationed at different locations. To the minister’s surprise and shock, the staff was missing from some ambulances, abandoning the vehicles.
The minister said the department has suspended 20 staffers attached to ‘108’ ambulance services for indiscipline, while new recruits were made so that the services were not affected.
Major overhaul of 108 service has also begun. The operations managers have also been changed.
“Some staff had abandoned the ambulances during night. This is a serious lapse. We cannot play with the lives of people. You can’t just park the ambulances and disappear,” Rane cautioned.
Rane last week had warned the ambulance staff of strict action against any kind of indiscipline and had asked them to increase the efficiency of this life-saving facility.
Rane said that during the inspection, it was found that the ambulances dedicated to neo-natal care were very much active.
“The department would be procuring 10 more advanced ambulances with trained staff by May 15 and they would be launched by May 25,” he said.
The minister said the department has decided to closely monitor the ambulance services across the State as it is the most essential services to serve the masses.
He said there will be total reshuffle of the staff in Directorate of Health Services to streamline the functioning and bring in efficiency.
The minister has also called for a meeting of all medical officers in the State on Monday in Panjim to review the health services across the State.
