The district administration has made arrangements to operate 13 of the 19 Arogya Kavacha (108) ambulances in the district. The administration has assured to start services of all 19 ambulances by Saturday.
The operation of the ambulances under the Arogya Kavacha came to a standstill on Wednesday following the indefinite strike call given by the ambulance drivers and emergency medical technicians. These ambulances are operated by the GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute). The drivers protested by locking the ambulances.
Reviewing the progress in restoration of services on Friday, Deputy Commissioner N.S. Channappa Gowda said services of 17 drivers from Health Department and the District Wenlock Hospital have been taken. “These 17 personnel will be working for eight hours. For the remaining period we are taking the services of KSRTC drivers,” he said. Mr. Channappa Gowda said the Arogya Kavacha ambulances will be operating from the Wenlock Hospital, Shiradi, Kabaka, Punjalkatte, Bajpe, Mulky, Venur, Naravi, Surathkal, and B.C. Road. The service for the six remaining places would start from Saturday evening, he said.
Essential services
Mr. Channappa Gowda said action has been taken to book criminal cases against the personnel of the 19 ambulances for violation of the Essential Services Act. The cases will be booked at each of the police stations where these 19 ambulances were operating.
The EMRI management has been asked to make arrangements for the drivers and medical technicians and take steps to prevent reoccurrence of such a situation in future, he said.