SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today launched four cardiac and trauma care ambulances in order to ensure timely transfer of patients requiring advanced medical treatment in tertiary-care hospitals in the state.
As part of the Emergency Medical Service, the fully-equipped critical care ambulances shall be stationed at Sangrama, Anantnag and Pampore in south Kashmir and Jammu, an official spokesman said here.
The places have been strategically chosen, so that patients are shifted to tertiary hospitals well in time for advanced medical treatment in cases of emergency, he said.
Appreciating the gesture of Borderless World Foundation, a Pune-based NGO which provided the ambulances, Sayeed highlighted the need for deployment of more critical care transport whenever a patient has care needs exceeding the current emergency medical service standards.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to provide select group of doctors and paramedics, trained in practice modalities, so that patients are provided highest level of monitoring and care required in exceptional situations, the spokesman said.
Health Minister Lal Singh informed the Chief Minister that about 70 ambulances procured under National Health Mission have been pressed into service to facilitate quick referrals so that lives are saved.
He said the department will make ambulances GPS-enabled so as to ensure their availability for transportation of patients who require advanced medical treatment.
The Directorate of Health Services, which has signed a MoU with the NGO, will provide staff, which includes doctors, paramedics and drivers for effective functioning of the service.
Each ambulance has been provided a cell number so that the service becomes accessible to the people, he said.