By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 11: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla has said that the state government is yet to take a final decision on the future of the 108 ambulance service, as a formal report on the matter is still awaited.
Shylla noted that while he recently met with a team associated with the emergency service, the government is carefully weighing its options.
He indicated that the situation is complex, requiring the state to balance the demands of the workers with administrative and financial realities.
The health minister also pointed out that absorbing all personnel into government service is not a simple task. He added that the government is trying to identify a workable solution that addresses the interests of both the state and the employees.
It may be recalled that the Meghalaya EMRI Workers’ Union recently submitted a memorandum to the health minister, opposing any move to re-tender the 108 Emergency Response Service. The union has demanded that the state government retain management and regularise the workforce.
The union argued that the ambulance network, operational since 2008, is a critical public utility that should remain under direct government oversight.
They cited operational failures under the previous private management, including delayed vehicle repairs, manpower shortages and inconsistent medical supplies, which, they claim, led to compromised emergency responses and subsequent protests.
