BENGALURU: Motorcycle ambulances will be launched across the state from January, Health Minister U T Khader said here on Tuesday. He was speaking at a programme organised to launch 198 new ambulances of the 108 service.
“All the approvals required to launch the service (motorcycle ambulances) have been provided. We will launch it from December or first week of January,” the minister said. There is also a proposal to launch air ambulances in the state, Khader said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who launched the ambulances, said the state government is committed to ensuring that backward classes and minorities also benefit from the 108 ambulance service.
“Lives are important and it is our duty to ensure that lives are saved....we have also launched several schemes in this regard,” he said.
With the addition of 198 ambulances, the 108 ambulance service has 715 ambulances in its fleet. Siddaramaiah said that the new ambulances were added to ensure that there is at least one ambulance for a population of one lakh.
“However, it has come to our notice that a few are offering ambulance services in an illegal manner and without any registration. I have directed the police to ensure that such people are apprehended,” the CM said.