Equipment in many of the ambulances is defunct
Equipment in many of the ambulances is defunct
Vijayawada: The laxity in operational and administrative issues in emergency ambulance service, 108, which is run by the government and GVK Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI), has resulted in delay in services, poor maintenance of vehicles and defunct medical equipment. The seven ambulances, running in the city limits, and 30 others in the district are in a poor state with defunct medical equipment in them. The vehicles too are in a bad shape.
The BP operator to check and control pressure, pulse-oxy metre to check the pulse rate of the patient, glucometer for checking sugar level in blood, suction operator for attending food poisoning cases and nebuliser are reportedly not working in the '108' ambulances in the city. As per rule, the government should deploy one ambulance for every 5 square km area. But it is not the case clearly in the district. There is a need of more ambulances to control the rush and to give better service to residents.
“We are running short of vehicles in Vijayawada. On an average, each ambulance in the city will attend to a minimum of five cases per day and it may go to seven whenever severe rains occur in the city,” said driver K. Raju. When contacted, Mr Rajendra, who is a programming manager for the city chapter, said that all the 37 ambulances in district, including seven in the city, are reportedly in good condition. He further reported that more ambulances would be sanctioned to the city.
When quizzed on the condition of vehicles and essential equipment, B. Raju, a technician, said most of the medical equipment in the ambulances in city and district were under repair. “We cannot help people in emergency with these defunct medical equipment,” he added. Though the matter has been reported several times to the officials concerned, authorities are lackadaisical about it, said another technician of 108 ambulance.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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