Govt rolls out 102, 108 ambulance services in JK

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the M/s BVG India Limited for outsourcing and operationalization of 102 and 108 ambulance services across the State.
The MoU was signed in presence of Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo here. He asked the concerned agencies to work in close coordination and effective implementation of the prestigious project.
Among others, Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, Managing Director, Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) and other officers of the Department were also present. The funding agency for the project is NHM, J&K, JKMSCL–which has already received the formal approval from Government of India in this regard.
The intervention will prove to be a boon in saving precious lives by providing timely medical care to people particularly residing in far-flung and difficult pockets of the state. The state government will bring a fleet of 416 ambulances under the ambit of this service, which will be operationalised through a centralised call centre working on 24×7 basis. 102 Ambulance Service will provide free of cost service to the targeted population (pregnant women, sick children etc).
Accordingly, an agreement was executed between M/s BVG India Limited and M/s Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited for the roll-out of the project within a period of 12 weeks from the date of execution of the agreement.
Regarding the operational component, the officials informed that Operationalization of 116 ambulances which includes the provision of human resources including drivers and paramedical, running and maintenance cost of these ambulances 24×7 basis, establishment and operationalization of call centres (toll-free) for effective management of ambulances services including deployment of these at strategic locations across the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The officials further said that the running and integration of call centre for the existing fleet of 300 ambulances. For these 300 ambulances (roadworthy) only for the software and GPRS Devices, call transfer/receiving and keeping the records of such calls. The manpower, maintenance and fueling of these ambulances shall be done by the end-user i.e. Directorate of Health Services, Jammu and Kashmir.