108 ambulance service from Thursday

PUDUCHERRY: As part of its  health care delivery system, Puducherry is all set to launch the 108 emergency response service at Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and post Graduate Institute (IGGHPGI) on Thursday. A free service delivered through the emergency call response, it aims at transporting a patient to a tertiary care  health centre.The service, to be implemented by the department of health and family welfare, will have a total of eight ambulances, said  Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr K V Raman on Wednesday.  The ambulances have been acquired under the Puducherry State Health Mission and 22 drivers have been provided by the Red Cross Society.One ambulance would be posted in each of the five  communes and two municipalities (stationed in PHCs) and one would be posted in IGGHPGI. The call centre is equipped with three lines  for people to avail  of the service.   The nodal officer is Dr Prakash, Deputy Director Immunization, and currently the department is making efforts to post technicians by tying up with JIPMER, he said, and added that Chief minister N Rangasamy would launch the service.