Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: In a significant advancement for healthcare services in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik officially launched 349 new ambulances in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
The dedication ceremony took place at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where the chief minister presented these new ambulances to the people of the state. Out of the total, 279 ambulances have been integrated into the existing 108 Ambulance services, while the remaining 70 have been allocated to medical colleges, hospitals, and district headquarters hospitals (DHHs).
Among the 70 ambulances, 40 are designated as basic life support (BLS) ambulances, and the remaining 30 are advanced life support (ALS) ambulances. The procurement cost for these new ambulances amounted to Rs 148.45 crore, as stated in a release from the chief minister's office (CMO).
This addition brings the total fleet of ambulances in the state to 1,366, facilitating the daily transportation of over 4,000 patients statewide. During the ceremony, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed optimism that the new ambulances would play a crucial role in saving human lives. He emphasized the government's commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services to the people, reaffirming the belief that every life is precious.
The event saw the presence of key figures, including Health Minister Niranjan Pujari, Secretary Shalini Pandit, 5T Chairman VK Pandian, and other senior officers.
