SHILLONG: The 108 EMRI Ambulance in its past 10 years of service in the state has done a yeoman job despite having an old fleet of at least 31 ambulances.
Sources said EMRI has 48 ambulances, five of which are kept as backup. Of these, 31 old vehicles need to be replaced. The ambulances were supposed to be replaced after five years but they have served double the service period.
Maintenance of the 108 ambulances in Meghalaya is a problem as the state does not have an organised setup or a workshop forcing EMRI to depend on technicians from Assam or have its own mobile service and mechanic.
The sources said the proposal was sent to the government for replacing the ambulances and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma did a review last month.
Earlier this year, Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek had said on the floor of the House that there was a proposal to expand the fleet size of 108 Emergency service. The government is contemplating 42 more ambulances in the fleet.
However, the question remains how the cash-strapped government will manage to replace or procure ambulances.
It was learnt that the chief minister has asked the Health Department to come up with a presentation so that the necessary requirements can be requested from the Health Ministry.
The average distance between two 108 ambulances in Meghalaya is 30 km, which is too much as far as attending and saving life is concerned.
According to sources, there are many locations which do not have the service and this goes by the fact that entire East Jaintia Hills district has only one ambulance.
The state government in partnership with GVK EMRI, the implementing agency, had launched the pan state emergency response service (ERS)/ “Dial 108” on February 2, 2009.
The service was initially introduced in two districts (East and West Khasi Hills), and in 2009, the services were extended to all seven districts.
Hek said the services offered are emergency care services and to render quality pre-hospital care and transport of the patient to the appropriate healthcare facility.
