The ambulance employees would now have to think twice before going in for strike as the State Government has included the emergency ambulance service under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA)-1988.
The Home Department issued a notification to this effect recently. The development came after the drivers engaged at 402 ambulances under the National Health Mission (NHM) resorted to cease-work agitation as the Government transferred a few drivers as they were indulged in nuisance.
The State Health Department also decided to provide 108 ambulance services in the waterways for the first time in the State through the National Health Mission Yojana. The waterways ambulance service would be provided first in Malkanagiri, Koraput, and Kendrapada district. In every district, two waterways ambulances would be engaged.