The state government has learned from past mistakes and this time the tender process to invite private players to run the 108 emergency ambulance service will progress smoothly.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today informed that the government will soon float the new tender. The minister met with 108 workers in her office today. The emergency service is temporarily being looked after by the National Health Mission (NHM) after the contract with the last private player, GVK, came to an end in 2022 and was not renewed.
The government then floated a tender to find a new private partner but in January this year the process was scrapped. At the time, Lyngdoh said that the tender would be re-issued due to various problems that cropped up with the bidders that could lead to legal challenges. Certain bidders had complained of favouritism towards rivals while at least one was reported to have gotten the contract, though this was later explained as a misinterpretation.
“This time, we have a lot of the line departments as members of the committee that is going to be scrutinising the documents of the bidders” the minister said today. A pre-bid meeting will be held tomorrow, postponed by one day.
“All the vendors are aware of this rearrangement of time and I hope that we will be able to get through this. I hope that we will be able to select the best 108 service providers and be able to do justice to this,” she said.
Lyngdoh also added that they need to sort out all the problems in the service before the new vendor takes over. This would ensure that the workers are protected when the private party assumes charge, she explained.
