Directing setting up of trauma care centers with online health services along the national highways to attend to accident victims, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today vouched for strengthening the services being extended by 108 and 104 ambulances in the State.
At a high-level review meeting with Health Minister Dr C Lakshma Reddy and DGP Anurag Sharma, KCR asked the health and police departments to coordinate efficiently to attend the accident victims on time. KCR asked the officials to set up trauma care centers along the highways with staff and equipment and ensure that police patrolling vehicles should carry first aid kits.
The Chief Minister also favored a hike in salaries for staff working in 108 and 104 ambulances and asked Health Minister to take steps immediately. The Government was pressing in one 108 vehicle for 75,000 population as against previous norm of one 108 vehicle for one lakh population. In addition to existing 312 vehicles, 169 vehicles will be added to the fleet of health services and 145 vehicles are pressed into service and rest in near future, he said.
The Chief Minister also ordered improving performance of 104 ambulances to provide better and on the spot services to the rural people. “Our ultimate aim is to see that the people receive better health services at villages and towns while in the cities focus was needed on curbing accident cases. KCR also asked for offering some monetary benefits to those doctors working in villages besides allowing them to stay in nearby towns. Since many people were losing lives in the accidents, the two departments should come out with an effective plan to prevent them”, he said.
The Chief Minister also directed the Health Minister to finalize to start construction of four big hospitals in the city by holding another meeting with people’s representatives and officials. The State government has allotted adequate funds for health sector in the budget and steps should be taken accordingly, he added. (NSS)