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Ambulances in JK sans equipment How Health Deptt plays with lives of people 12/8/2016 10:42:40 PM Ishtiyaq Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, Dec 8: Even as government says that 50 hi-tech ambulances equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) and other gadgets will be soon introduced in J&K, the GPS is not working in existing ambulances, risking the lives of people. The GPS is necessary for the ambulances as every second in a medical emergency is being counted by this equipment so that ambulances reach their destinations as quickly as possible. But in J&K, although GPS is fitted in ambulances, it's not working. An official of the Health Department said ambulances that are available in hospitals are as good as "trucks with no resuscitation facilities and trained staff". "None of these so-called ambulances are fitted with GPS and other life support systems, rendering them no better than regular transport vehicles. Patients ferried in these ambulances have no advantage over a patient travelling in a normal vehicle," the official said. "These vehicles are just while colored vans with a siren," he added. Majority of critically ill patients die in transit or reach hospitals in a morbid condition as the ambulances carrying them lack equipment and qualified staff. Similarly, authorities had earlier proposed that "25 critical care ambulances" for the emergencies, including road accidents will be placed along the Srinagar-Jammu Highway and other accident prone areas after every 30 km distance. But even after over four years proposal is yet to be implemented. Due to the inordinate delay, the lives of thousands of patients are being risked as the referrals for ventilator support are ferried in the ambulances that are mere "patient carriers". Director Health Services Kashmir, Saleem-u-Rehman has said some 50 hi-tech ambulances will be soon introduced in the state with GPS technology and other emergency gadgets. He said earlier the 102 ambulance service was introduced on pilot basis but that didn't work as the vehicles weren't found fit for the service. "Now we are coming up with new 102 ambulance services very soon," he has claimed.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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