Daijiworld Media Network - Mapusa
Mapusa, Oct 23: Goa will receive 40 new ambulances within a month, while the functioning of the 108-emergency service will be reviewed every week, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced on Thursday following concerns over ambulance delays after the death of a 22-year-old woman in Sanguem.
Rane said the new ambulances would strengthen emergency medical services, particularly in Bardez and other identified hotspots. A stricter monitoring mechanism will also be introduced to ensure that agencies managing the 108 service remain accountable for operational readiness, hygiene and maintenance.
Expressing sadness over the woman’s death, the minister said the circumstances surrounding the incident would be examined internally without prematurely concluding whether the 108 service was at fault.
“We will make sure people are satisfied. In fact, Goa’s healthcare model aims to put people first,” Rane told journalists on the sidelines of a BJP party event at Parra on Thursday.
As part of the proposed monitoring mechanism, Rane has directed the health adviser to review the functioning of the 108 service every week. Monthly reviews involving the Under Secretary and the minister will provide an additional level of scrutiny, he said.
The minister stressed that ambulances must remain operational and that the agencies responsible for managing them should not compromise on basic service standards. The measures are aimed at improving accountability and ensuring timely emergency medical assistance.
Beyond emergency services, Rane also emphasised the need to extend healthcare to patients at their homes.
He later visited patients undergoing treatment and people receiving palliative care at their homes in Saligao, listening to their concerns and assessing the difficulties they face.
Rane said the government was committed to identifying gaps in service delivery and ensuring that patients requiring continued care could access the necessary support at their doorstep.
The initiatives reflect the minister’s stated focus on strengthening emergency response services while expanding access to home-based healthcare.