Govt drops PPP plan for ambulances

This is the second big PPP project that has been scrapped by the government,after the two super specialty hospitals in Tahirpur and Janakpuri.

The ambulances,sanctioned under the National Rural Health Mission,will be procured through a central fund. Under the agreement,states can decide their own mechanism to operate the ambulances once procured.

Until recently,the government was contemplating a private partnership to run the ambulances. Speaking to Newsline after the meeting,Dr Walia said,“We will be purchasing 70 Patient Transport Ambulances (PTA) for the moment,and bringing out advertisements for the post of 250 drivers and paramedical staff. For the remaining five sanctioned to us under NRHM,we may purchase more advanced ambulances later.”

Dr Walia said the decision to drop the PPP idea was taken to “expedite the process”. The department will also open a 24/7 call centre to monitor the fleet,after the ambulances start functioning “by this year”.

The Health department drew flak in 2010,when the deal with Fortis had to be scrapped midway,before the Games. In its defence,the Health department had argued that the 75 ambulances that were purchased from Fortis were found to be “sub-standard”,while the healthcare company had argued they had followed the specifications cleared by the department in the sample vehicles.

The state government currently operates 36 ambulances under the Centralised Accident and Trauma Services(CATS).