In a significant move towards bolstering emergency healthcare services in the state, Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao has flagged off 466 new ambulances (108 ambulances and 102 Amma Vodi vehicles) at People’s Plaza. This massive upgrade marks a vital step in enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of emergency medical assistance for the people of Telangana.
Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Harish Rao highlighted the significant progress made in the emergency health care services since Telangana’s formation, with an increase from 316 to 455 ambulances in the state. He emphasized that the accessibility has remarkably improved, with one vehicle now serving every 75,000 people, compared to the previous ratio of one for every 1,00,000 people.
The minister said that the emergency response time, the average time for the arrival of an ambulance, has been reduced from 30 minutes to just 15 minutes and he added that the department is mulling to implement dynamic positioning of ambulances. He added that Amma Vodi vehicles are catering to 4,000 people daily and 108 ambulances are serving 2,000 people per day.
Minister Harish Rao assured that the medical and health department is prepared to face any health challenges, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting citizens during times of illness. The health minister mentioned that the government’s proactive approach for better health care includes constructing 100-bed hospitals in each constituency and efforts to make 50,000 beds available in government hospitals through the establishment of a government medical college in every district. He added that four TIMS hospitals and Warangal Health City are under construction.
In a kind gesture to support the ASHA activists, Harish Rao announced that the government will pay the mobile bills and provide smartphones to the newly appointed ASHA workers in Hyderabad.