TS to add 169 new vehicles

Hyderabad: Health Minister C Lakshma Reddy has informed the Telangana Legislative Council that the State government would increase the existing fleet of 337 ambulances under 108 EMRI services to 506 ambulances.

Replying to a question raised by Congress MLC Mohammed Ali Shabbir during Question Hour, the Minister said tenders have been floated for procurement of 169 new ambulances. With the increase of fleet, one ambulance will be available for a population of 75,000. He denied that 108 ambulance services were not functioning properly at present due to non-release of funds by the government for the last three months.

Reacting to the reply, Shabbir Ali pointed out that on November 28, 2014, government issued GO Ms No 38 to switch over from the present EMRI scheme to National Ambulance Services Scheme under National Health Mission logo and colour scheme duly adopting uniform nomenclature. He said under the scheme, the Central government had proposed to provide 25 per cent of operation cost and replacement of vehicles under National Health Mission. He sought to know the details of funds received from the Centre so far and whether the ambulance services were being run by State or Centre.

The Minister clarified that 108 ambulance services were being run by the State government while the Centre's role was confined to funding.