Goa to add 40 new ambulances within a month and review 108 service weekly

Goa will get 40 new ambulances within a month, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced on Thursday, and he ordered weekly reviews of the state's 108 emergency service, The Goan reported.

The announcement came as the response of ambulance services in the Sanguem area came under scrutiny. Rane said the case must be taken seriously, but that the circumstances would be examined internally without concluding in advance whether the 108 service was at fault.

According to the report, the new ambulances are meant to strengthen emergency response, particularly in Bardez and other identified hotspots. Under the proposed monitoring system:

• the health advisor will review the functioning of the 108 service every week;
• monthly reviews will involve the Under Secretary and the minister;
• the focus will be on ambulances staying functional and on agencies running them meeting standards of operational readiness, hygiene and maintenance.

Rane said the aim is to make sure people are satisfied with the service.

Why it matters for ambulance owners and drivers

• Operators of the 108 service in Goa face closer monitoring of vehicle upkeep and readiness.
• The fleet is set to grow by 40 vehicles within a month, according to the minister.