Odisha's Cabinet Greenlights Emergency Medical Ambulance Service for Five More Years

Cabinet Approval for Extended Ambulance Services

Bhubaneswar: On Wednesday, the Cabinet of Odisha, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, sanctioned the continuation of the Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (EMAS) for the period spanning 2023–24 to 2027–28, as reported by official sources.

The EMAS, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the state government, has been operational in Odisha since March 5, 2013, functioning under the umbrella of the ‘National Ambulance Service’. This service has proven to be a crucial support system for the residents of Odisha.

This initiative ensures that comprehensive pre-hospital emergency medical services are delivered at no cost to the citizens of Odisha via a fleet of ambulances. The EMAS-108 service operates through a centralized, 24/7 integrated call center equipped with 150 seats. The second phase of this program will unfold over five years, from 2023–24 to 2027–28, with an expectation to handle approximately 11–12 lakh emergency cases annually, including those involving pregnant women and children, transporting them to designated public health facilities within a targeted response time of 20 minutes.

Currently, the EMAS-108 fleet consists of 866 ambulances, which include 411 Advanced Life Support (ALS) units, 449 Basic Life Support (BLS) units, and six boat ambulances. The service is managed by a private partner agency. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja informed the media that a budget of Rs 2398.45 crore has been allocated for this initiative over the five-year period from 2023-24 to 2027-28.