June 29:Ambulance services with advanced medical facilities will soon be started in the capital on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis."We plan to operate ambulance services on the PPP basis in a bid to cut expenditure cost on employees as well ensure better and efficient medical services to needy people," Delhi Health Principal Secretary Vivek Rae told the news agency.
However, Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) will be exclusively run by the state government, he added."For PPP mode, a feasibility report has been prepared by our consultant IDFC and we will soon float tenders in this regard. Of course a Cabinet approval has to be taken first," Rae added.
He said the government plans to bring in 110 ambulance vans in addition to the existing fleet of 35 vans.Some of them will have basic life support system while others will be equipped with advanced medical facilities.
The decision to invite as many firms for the job has come days after BJP’s opposition to the state government’s initial plans to hand over ambulance services to a Hyderabad-based private institution EMRI.
Dismissing allegations that entry of private parties would deteriorate basic services such as health, Rae cited Hyderabad example where 500 ambulance vans have been started and they get as many as 2,000 calls a day.
Similar service would prove very purposeful and useful in Delhi, he said."Moreover we will keep CATs with us so that there is a competition in the sector which would ultimately benefit the users," he said.
The BJP has been seeking strengthening and modernising of existing CAT services alleging that EMRI is being benefited at the cost of the taxes paid by Delhiites. courtsey :dd news