Ambulances in State lack essential medical equipment

SHILLONG: None of the 118 ambulances in the State are equipped with essential medical equipment and hence are used only for referral purposes. This was revealed by the CAG report that was tabled in the Assembly recently.
The report said that in Meghalaya, only 108 Ambulance service is available while 102 Ambulance service is yet to be made operational.
The Health Secretary informed that as on December 2016, the 118 ambulances were not equipped with essential medical equipment since the Centre had approved budget only for the purchase of ambulances and even their maintenance and operational expenditure were being borne by the respective health facilities.
The CAG report added that the State Government should, however, ensure that ambulances being used as patient transport vehicle should have basic professional equipment for first aid and nursing.
Meanwhile, the Health Secretary informed the CAG in December 2016 that the proposal to start 102 Ambulance service was given to the Centre in 2015-16 and 2016-17 but it was not approved.