Bhubaneswar, Apr 23 (UNI) The Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the “Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS)” for implementation in the state from 2023–24 to 2027–28.
The Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (EMAS), a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, and the Government of Odisha (under the banner of the “National Ambulance Service”), has been operational in the state since March 5, 2013.
The 108 Emergency Medical Ambulance Service has served as a lifeline for the people of Odisha.
Under this scheme, provision has been made for the delivery of comprehensive pre-hospital emergency medical services, through a fleet of ambulances (EMAS), free of cost for the residents of Odisha.
The EMAS-108 service is managed and monitored through a centralized, 24×7 integrated call center with 150 seats.
Phase-II of this scheme will be implemented over five years, from 2023–24 to 2027–28, with an estimated 11–12 lakh emergency cases (including pregnant women and children) to be transported annually by EMAS-108 ambulances to designated public health facilities, within a targeted response time of 20 minutes.
The current EMAS-108 fleet in the state comprises 866 ambulances, including 411 Advanced Life Support (ALS), 449 Basic Life Support (BLS), and 6 boat ambulances.
The EMAS-108 ambulance service is managed by a private partner agency.
A total of Rs.2,39,845.26 lakh has been provisioned for the scheme over five years (2023–24 to 2027–28), according to State Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who briefed the media following the Cabinet meeting.
