Critical Care Ambulance service will soon be a reality in JK
Service to be started from April with a fleet of 416 ambulances
Srinagar: The much awaited Critical Care Ambulance Service is expected to start functioning by the end of April this year across the state, as the company which will be providing the services has assured that it will roll out 416 such ambulances this year.
According to the minutes of the meeting—of various stakeholders regarding the roll out of 102 & 108 ambulance services in the state—put out by the Health and Medical Education Department, the Service Provider has ‘assured’ that it was expecting the services to start by April 28, 2019.
“…By 28th April, 2019, 102/108 services are expected to Go-Live. MD JKMSCL also intimidated that the draft MoU stands prepared and shared with Mission Director, NHM as well,” the document stated.
Notably, the project has already been delayed beyond expectations due to several administrative issues, the document containing the minutes of meeting stated that while keeping the urgency of the patient care in view it was decided that the service provider will roll out “416 such ambulances with different service parameter in the state, and in one go in first year itself to compensate for delay the project already suffered,” it said.
“This will include retrofitting of 50 ambulances for advanced life support (with all lifesaving protocols), 66 of Basic Life Support and functional fleet of 300 JSSK ambulances for GPS devices,” it added.
The directorates—in Jammu and in Kashmir—have been directed to identify base locations to station the ambulances besides preparing the list of drivers.
“All such information shall be transmitted to M/s BVG India (Service Provider) so that these vital details are integrated with the call centre to ensure prompt response/ services.”
The concerned CMOs have been appointed as nodal officers for the district, while as BMO’s have been designated as nodal officers for the Blocks.
Pertinently, the Ambulances will be deployed keeping in view the various factors such as topography and accident frequency under consideration. Both the directorates have been tasked to prepare a comprehensive plan with regard to the deployment of critical care ambulances.
“The deployment plan for each district shall be prepared by the Directorates of Health Jammu/ Kashmir keeping in view the topography, accident frequency, infrastructure in Hospitals and availability of specialists,” it said.
As per the minutes, all the stakeholders have been instructed to make sure that 102 and 108 Ambulance Services are made functional by April 28, “as has been agreed by the service provider.”
“All the stakeholders were instructed to work in mission mode to have tangible results within the drawn up action plan. It shall be ensured that 102 & 108 Ambulance Services Go-Live on 28th April,” it said.
Irfan Tramboo
