In a State prone to natural disasters and infamous for road accidents happening thick and fast along its treacherous terrain, a fleet of 61 new ambulances is waiting for induction in the emergency ambulance service for the past four months. The grim state of the State’s emergency service and the tragic road accident in Pauri on Sunday that took toll of at least 48 lives when juxtaposed show how vulnerable the people of the State are, given the apathy of the State Government towards their emergency requirement. One can see the ambulances purchased in February lying stationed outside the State health directorate in Dehradun, waiting for induction.
These vehicles are waiting to get refurbished and fitted with necessary equipment before they are handed over to the 108 emergency ambulance service, the officers concerned said.
Notably, the fleet of ambulances was purchased from Tata Motors to replace the age-worn vehicles in the 108 ambulance service.
Contacted, the director general (DG) of State health services Dr T C Pant said that the tenders for refurbishment for these vehicles have been floated and these ambulances would be inducted into the fleet of the 108 service by the end of this month.
However, the inordinate delay in the process of refurbishing these vehicles and equipping them with all necessary systems before their induction is having eyebrows raised. “It exposes the insensitivity inherent in the system. We need ambulances for emergency response in the State, but here a large number of such ambulances are rusting in the open for want of refurbishment which is a simple process,’’ said a medical officer. Intriguingly enough, the department has also given its nod to purchase 50 more ambulances for the 108 service while those already purchased are made to lie unused, rusting in the open air.
The 108 emergency ambulance service is a vital cog in providing emergency care in all parts of the State, say the observers. The service is also used to transport the expecting women to the hospitals for safe deliveries. The 108 ambulance service has a fleet of 139 ambulances and it has a boat ambulance too which operates in Tehri lake.
It is interesting to note that 75 percent of the fleet of 108 service in the State needs immediate replacement. Ninety ambulances of the 108 service had been purchased in 2008 while 18 and 32 ambulances had been purchased in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Almost all vehicles of the service have covered a distance of more than 300000 kilometres after which these vehicles should be replaced as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) norms.