A year on after GVK lost the contract to run the 108 emergency ambulance service, the state government is still quite some distance from handing it over to a new entity.
The National Health Mission is currently operating the service in a stop-gap arrangement. However, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said today that the NHM does not have the expertise to run the system itself on a permanent basis.
108 workers had often complained, protested and even went on strike over working conditions when GVK ran the service.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said that the government is currently undertaking a review of how and what is the best way forward for the ambulance service.
“I have met with the 108 workers and received their memorandum. We want to ensure firstly that we consider and safeguard all workers in the 108 service. At the moment, we must protect their services and give them maximum coverage and benefit whenever the new company takes over,” Lyngdoh said.
The government is preparing a tender but this is expected to take time to complete as the authorities do not want to rush into any agreement that puts the workers at a disadvantage.
“We must take them along and ensure that whatever we do is done in the best interest of these workers. Once we’ve understood that then we will call for the tender, which is currently being prepared. The expression of interest is also being prepared and will likely be floated at the earliest,” the minister said, adding that the department wants only the most eligible and capable party to take over the service.
“108 has truly been the wheels of hope and wheel of life,” she said, referring to its slogan. “We want to ensure that that continues and want that to the furthest extent possible extra ambulances will be made available to the sick across the state. I have full faith that we will be able to come to a certain agreement so that we can make sure that these services are run most efficiently in the interest of the public of the state.”
