Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 8: The Karnataka Cabinet has given its nod to privatising the 108 ambulance service, health minister U T Khader said on Tuesday, announcing a major change in the management of the emergency medical transport system.
Khader said the government is moving ahead with a new policy for managing the 108 ambulance service, under which the service will be handed over to private operators.
“The government is moving ahead with a new policy for managing the 108 ambulance service. Under the new policy, it has been decided to hand over the 108 ambulance service to private operators. The entire Karnataka Cabinet has agreed to the privatisation. The chief minister has also agreed to the privatisation,” he said.
Khader recalled that during Dinesh Gundu Rao’s earlier tenure as health minister, the government had stated that the 108 ambulance service would not be handed over to GKVK and that the government itself would manage the service. However, after Khader took charge as health minister, the government has decided to proceed with the tendering process.
The new system will also impose strict response-time targets on ambulance drivers. Ambulances will be required to reach hospitals within 10 minutes in rural areas and 15 to 20 minutes in urban areas, Khader said.
“If the stipulated time is exceeded, a penalty of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 will be imposed on the company that secures the tender,” he said.
Khader also issued a warning to 108 ambulance staff against protests that could affect patients.
“If you protest and cause inconvenience to patients, action will be taken. We have no connection with the 108 staff. It is an issue concerning the company, so resolve it with the company. If a patient faces a problem, action will be taken against all the staff,” he warned.