TV
The 108 ambulances, integral to providing emergency healthcare access in Odisha, are presently faltering owing to persistent technical malfunctions.
These ambulances, once considered dependable, now face numerous issues, such as punctures, leaky driver cabins, and defunct air conditioning. In some instances, failures in headlight functionality have occurred during night-time emergencies in the Mohana area of Gajapati district.
Despite numerous complaints submitted by drivers and operational staff, the concerned authorities have yet to undertake effective remedial measures. A maintenance agency based in Telangana, responsible for servicing these vehicles, has not adequately resolved the problems, further aggravating the stress on both drivers and patients, particularly in tribal areas like Sundargarh Bonai where ambulances frequently break down.
The plight brought to the forefront by Dana Majhi from Kalahandi—who had to carry his deceased wife's body on his shoulders due to the non-availability of ambulance services—underscores the urgency of addressing these lapses.
Families of patients continue to express their anxieties, whilst drivers are left frustrated by recurring mechanical breakdowns. Community voices, such as Manoj Behera from Bonai, decry the negligence and lack of accountability in the management of the 108 emergency services.
“Patients are dying mid-way because of the conditions of the ambulances. This is a worrying trend and the government should immediately take necessary steps in the repair of the ambulances,” a local, Manoj Behera, alleged.
Likewise, Jagannath Diga, an ambulance driver said, “Despite repeated repairs, these vehicles have started malfunctioning as they have become old. This causes a lot of problems while ferrying patients. Most of the time, we have to arrange another ambulance if any vehicle breaks down mid-way while taking patients.”
As these ambulances continue to deteriorate, urgent medical care suffers significantly, leaving the public and healthcare providers vulnerable. The official responses have thus far been inadequate, with insufficient resources allocated to rectify the deficiencies in these essential emergency vehicles.
