Odisha Govt launches boat ambulance service to help patients

The Odisha government launched the boat ambulance service to help patients reach hospitals in remote areas cut off by rivers, at a cost of Rs 5.40 crore.

The boat ambulance is made of fibre glass and can comfortably accommodate seven persons. The pre- hospital care can be well administered to the patient on board for which it is equipped with drugs and lifesaving medical equipment.

The government has sanctioned six boat ambulances to facilitate the operation of the emergency medical ambulance services on the water. All the six boat ambulances will be part of the 108 ambulance service.

The first boat ambulance was launched at Batighar in Kendrapada district. While two ambulances have been sanctioned for Malkangiri, two have been sanctioned for Kendrapada and one each for Koraput and Kalahandi.

At present, patients from these areas who need transportation to the nearest health institution depend on passenger boats to cross the water bodies to the pickup point of 108 or 102 ambulance.

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