A total of eight 108 Emergency Service ambulances under the Odisha Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (OEMAS) Project were launched here by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Damodar Rout.
The State-wide modern emergency ambulance service was launched in collaboration with Mumbai-based Ziqitza Health Care limited. Earlier, the emergency service was launched in Khurda, Koraput, Ganjam, Cuttack, Jajpur, Puri and Bhadrak districts. The ambulance service will be expanded to 30 districts and the total number of ambulances would go up to 420.
With the inclusion of 15 districts in the first phase, the number of ambulances would go up to 280. The first of 280 ambulances will be operational in the districts of Angul, Bhadrak , Baleswar , Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Khurda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. While launching the service, Dr Rout said, "The State Government has designated 129 hospitals to provide health services to the poor and destitute and nine hospitals in Rayagada has been designated to provide special health service to the people. The Government is taking many steps to bring in all-round development in the health sector, which will help the people below poverty line in getting medical services without having any difficulties.”
He informed that the Government is planning to invest Rs 25 crore for the development of Rayagada district hospital. Dr Rout added, “The launch of OEMAS will provide all the support and assistance needed to ensure that the service is available to all the people across the districts, towns and villages.”
The meeting was also addressed by SC and ST Welfare Minister lal Bihari Himirika, Koraput MP Jay Ram Pangi, Bisam Cuttack MlA Dambaru Dhara Ulaka, Gunupur MlA Ramamurthy Mutika and Zilla Parishad president Sujata Madangi. Rayagada District Collector Dr Sashi Bhushan Padhi presided.