ITANAGAR, Jun 11: The health department is going to start 108 ambulance services soon in the state. Informing this the Health Minister Alo Libang on Friday said preparation is going on to start the service by June end. At present the ambulance procured under this 108 service has been parked unused at Naharlagun drawing ire of the citizens.
“This 108 service will be run through a call centre and will be a 24/7 service. It will be fitted with first aid and lifesaving equipment including oxygen. Drivers have to be trained and should have basic knowledge of life saving techniques. Guidelines have been set up by the government of India,” informed Alo Libang.
He said due to lack of trained drivers and emergency medical technicians the service could not be started till now and also due to complete lockdown in the capital region the training process has also been hampered. He said. .
“We have started training drivers and medical technicians on how to operate this ambulance service. First batch training is already completed and right now last batch training is going. The call centre office is also being established in Itanagar at Dayeng Ering colony,” said Libang. The minister added that ambulances under 108 service will be provided based on population criteria.
It is to mention that the ambulance parked for more than one month will be fitted with a GPS system which will connect with the control room and this system may be able to provide better services in comparison to earlier ambulance services if it functions properly. As per information there are around 55 ambulances parked at Rajiv Gandhi stadium of which registration numbers are also in progress and other fitting are being done before the flagging off soon.
