AGARTALA:
Keeping in line with the government’s commitment towards creating a robust healthcare in the state, Tripura chief minister, Biplab Kumar Deb, flagged off 16 life support ambulances in Agartala on March 4.
Addressing media persons, Deb, who is also the health minister, informed that Rs 2.5 crore has been spent to procure the 16 ambulances.
“During the pandemic, 9 ambulances were given to serve the people. Out of the 16 ambulances, 12 will be sent to sub-divisional hospitals, while four will be for primary health care in four districts of Tripura. To benefit the people of the state, we procured these ambulances for Rs 2.5 crore,” he said.
Claiming that the health department of Tripura is working towards a new direction, he expressed gratitude to the department.
“The health facility in the state has improved as a result of modernisation of health infrastructure and decentralisation of improved services. As a result, we have achieved successes in the field of health, including open-heart surgery,” he added.
Stating that people not going for treatment outside Tripura is a positive reflection, Deb emphasised his primary goal is “to reduce the number of referrals to zero through advanced health services, with access to treatment for complex diseases”.
Notably, the money for the ambulances have been allocated from the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS). These ‘Patient Transport Ambulances’ (PTA) will be provided in South, Gomati, and Sepahijala districts, among others.
Earlier, the state government purchased nine Advanced Life Support Ambulances (ALSA) at a cost of Rs 1.70 crore and distributed to several hospitals in the state.