Tuesday, February 3, 2009

EMRI service launched in Meghalaya

Courtesy : Shillong Times

Patients in East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills districts will now have excess to free emergency services. What they need to do is just dial 108 and an ambulance will be at their doorstep. The project called "108 Emergency Response Services (ERS) ambulances" or "Wheels of Hope" was flagged off by Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy in the presence of Health Minister Dr Adviser Pariong and Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) officials here on Monday.


This is the first project undertaken by the government under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Meghalaya is the ninth state in the country to see the launch of such emergency response services. A total of 15 state-of-the-art ambulances, worth about Rs 15 lakh each, will be at the service of the people. The ambulances are well-equipped to deal with all types of emergencies. Initially, the emergency services would be operational in the two districts of East West Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills. The project would cover the entire State soon.


The ERS centre is located at the Neurological Building, MIMHANS, Lawmali in the city. The centre is equipped with latest technology and infrastructure with 117 personnel. 108 is a toll-free number and it functions round the clock. An individual, particularly a patient, can dial this number from his landline or mobile phone at any time to get urgent help during any emergency, be it medical, police or fire incident. On receiving the call, emergency response teams from the ERS centre would provide free pre-hospital assistance to the person concerned through ambulance service.

Speaking at the inaugural function at the Aurobindo Institute Hall here, Dr Roy said the free emergency services would cater to the poor people of the State. Stating that the State Government was pursuing the PPP model in people's interest and that it should not be seen as "sellout of the public assets," the Chief Minister said "The PPP model is meant to strengthen and improve the services to the people. We cannot avoid PPP which is a modern day need. Health is a major concern and the poor people should get proper treatment."


Health Minister Dr Pariong said the 'Wheels of Hope' would help people of rural areas. He also said the government was trying its best to improve all the hospitals in the State, including PHCs, CHCs and dispensaries. EMRI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Venkat Changavalli lauded the Meghalaya Government for making the initiative possible within 88 days of signing the MoU with EMRI. According to the agreement, the State Government would provide 95 per cent of the funds and EMRI would chip in with five per cent to run the project.

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