77 new ALS and BLS ambulances to cater COVID surge in Punjab- HM, Balbir Singh Sidhu

77 new ALS and BLS ambulances to cater COVID surge in Punjab- HM, Balbir Singh Sidhu

Flags off 15 BLS ambulances from Mohali

Says fleet of a hundred more in the pipeline

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Chandigarh/Mohali, August 14:
In order to ensure quick emergency services to the patients during the tough time of the pandemic, 77 new ambulances are being pressed into operation, informed Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health Minister, Punjab.
Flagging off 15 Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulances from Mohali Health Minister informed that to fulfill the shortage of ambulances in the government hospitals, Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has given nod to procure 100 more Ambulances.
He said that in first phase, order for 77 Ambulances has been placed; out of which 17 Advance Life Support (ALS) ambulances have already been given to the Districts. These ALS Ambulances are fully equipped with life saving equipments such as Ventilators, Defibrillators, Multi-Para Patient Monitor, Suction Machine, Nebulizers etc.
Today, the delivery of the 60 BLS ambulances has commenced with the first lot of 15 ambulances and the remaining will be made available by the end of August, 2020.
These ambulances are proving to be one of the main pillars of fighting the pandemic by reducing significantly the time required for transit of critical patients to the required health facilities. The Emergency Ambulances reach the place within 20 minutes in urban areas and within 30 minutes in rural areas.
Health Minister said that at a time when Punjab is seeing a rise in numbers of positive patients, the addition of these new ambulances will further give boost to the efforts of fighting the pandemic. The new ALS and BLS ambulances would prove life saving for the patients developing respiratory and other critical issues, said Balbir Singh Health Minister, Punjab.
It may be observed that from March to July, 2020 ambulance 108 has handled 25177 COVID related cases, said he and added that there are presently 19 ALS and 223 BLS ambulances already operational in the State which have been deputed at Strategic places and are connected with ‘108’ Emergency Response System (ERS).
MD Punjab Health System Corporation, Ms Tanu Kashyap, Director, Dr. Balwant Singh and other officials from Punjab Health System Corporation were present on the occasion.