Civil surgeons told to resume 108 ambulance service in 15 days

Ranchi: State health, medical education and family welfare department on Tuesday directed the civil surgeons in all the districts to ensure 108 ambulance service, under which many of the vehicles have been lying defunct for past few months, resume within 15 days from Tuesday.

There are a total 543 ambulances under the service of which around 450 are functional.

In a review meeting on Tuesday, additional chief secretary of the department, Ajoy Kumar Singh, directed all officials concerned to prepare proposals within 15 days for the allocation of funds to address the minor faults causing the non-operation of the service. He emphasised that all ambulances should be fully operational.

During the meeting, the senior official also directed all govt hospitals across the state to assess and compile a list of all essential equipment and machines, and submit it to the department, to facilitate the procurement of necessary machines.

This apart, Singh also instructed that a list of hospitals lacking X-ray machines be provided, including proposals for modular operating theatres are submitted within a week.

He further directed health officials across the districts to undertake the beautification and equipping of health centres, including Sadar Hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs), within one month. "The officials have to upload photographs of the completed work. A review taken will be conducted after one month. The required funds for this initiative have already been allocated," Singh added.