Cabinet Okays ₹2,398 Crore for Emergency Ambulance Service

The Odisha cabinet on Wednesday approved an allocation of ₹2,398.45 crore for a period of five years for implementation of the second phase of Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) scheme in the state.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar

The proposal was approved during a meeting of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan here. The second phase of the EMAS scheme was being implemented in the state from 2023-24.

Speaking to mediapersons, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja said the initiative, a joint effort between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the state government, aims to provide comprehensive pre-hospital emergency medical services to the people of the state.

"The second phase of the scheme will cater to around 11-12 lakh emergency patients including pregnant women and children with a response time of 20 minutes. The project will be implemented through a private agency selected via an open tender process, with financing on a reimbursement basis," he added.