Gujarat: 25 ambulances added to 108 fleet

GANDHINGAR: Gujarat has the highest number of 108 ambulances filled with life-saving ventilators, said DyCM Nitin Patel on Wednesday, dedicating 25 new ambulances to the fleet.
Patel, who is also the health minister, added that another 75 vehicles for ambulances have been purchased and will be added to the 108 ambulance service in two or three months after being fitted with necessary life-saving equipment.
“Today, we have more than 200 ambulances which have ventilators. I do not think any other state has so many ventilator-equipped ambulances,” said Patel. All the 25 ambulances have been assigned to various districts, he added.
Patel said that, according to Word Health Organisation (WHO) norms, there ought to be one fully equipped ambulance for every 1-lakh population. “We ought to have 630 ambulances given the population of Gujarat is around 6.3 crore. However, we already have about 800 ambulances now,” Patel said.
Providing figures, Patel said that since its inception in 2007, the 108-service has ferried 1.22 crore patients to hospitals. “During the pandemic, over 2.15 lakh Covid-19 patients were shifted to hospitals in 108 ambulances. When the second wave was at its peak, many Covid-19 patients were treated and given oxygen in 108 ambulances itself as they waited for their turn to get oxygen beds in hospitals,” he said.
‘CM will decide on when to relieve Jayanti Ravi’
DyCM Nitin Patel was, on Wednesday, asked when principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi — who has been transferred to Auroville — will be relieved of her charge. Patel answered that the decision will be taken by chief minister Vijay Rupani. Ravi has been appointed as secretary, Auroville Foundation in Tamil Nadu, on deputation. Her appointment was approved a few months ago and her transfer order was issued on May 24.