Karnataka   

Plan for emergency medical services in State

B. Sriramulu

UPPINANGADY (DAKSHINA KANNADA): Minister for Health and Family Welfare B. Sriramulu said here on Wednesday that the Government is planning to avail the services of Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI), managed by Satyam Computer Services Limited, to provide emergency medical relief services in the State.

Speaking to presspersons he said that he would visit Hyderabad in a few days to hold talks with the representatives of the company on availing its services. The Government was planning to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company to this effect.

EMRI offers medical, police and fire emergencies through the toll free no. 108. This is a free service delivered through the state-of-the-art emergency call response centres using ambulances.

When a person is in need of emergency, a call to108 will immediately elicit emergency service within 18 minutes through an ambulance. The person can even be admitted to the nearest hospital or treatment centre using the facility, the Minister said.

This toll free number can be used for medical emergencies, to report a crime in progress or to report a fire. This service is available in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

If the talks come through, the Government plans to introduce this service in the State on a pilot basis, Mr. Sriramulu said.

The Minister said that the Government would recruit 850 doctors to Primary Health Centres (PHC) in the State by July. M. Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, was present. The Minister visited PHCs in Mani, Uppinangady, Kadaba, Panja, Kukke Subrahmanya, Sullia and Puttur to assess the treatments being given to chikungunya patients. He also spoke to local doctors and some patients.

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