Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 29: After unprecedented delay due to controversies and technical reasons, the much awaited Critical Care Ambulances for emergency services along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway are now held up for a Cabinet nod for the last four months.
The draft proposal recommending permission for fabrication of vehicles as Critical Care Ambulance by Hindustan Latex Ltd (a Public Sector Undertaking of Government of India) and UNDP is awaiting Cabinet nod since January last, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Imposition of Model Code of Conduct for more than two months in the wake of Lok Sabha elections and lackluster approach of the Government towards urgency of the ambulances was keeping the proposal out of its priority agendas.
As per the draft proposal for permission, prepared by the Ministry of Health after taking into consideration suggestions and objections of the Finance Department, the fabrication of vehicles under National Ambulance Code will be either done by reputed Central PSU, HLL or UNDP without inviting tenders.
The HLL and UNDP, which have been short listed for the job, are international level reputed companies for fabrication of Critical Care Ambulance and have already worked for All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and other prominent hospitals in different States, sources explained.
Pertinent to mention that for avoiding any controversy this time and make the system fool proof, the Department of Health Services has incorporated all the specifications under National Ambulance Code by the Government of India for international level services in the proposed Critical Care Ambulances. Earlier, the Government had cancelled the agreement finalized with a Himachal Pradesh based private firm that was allotted the tender for fabrication of vehicles as Critical Care Ambulances.
The agreement was cancelled on the recommendation of a departmental committee into the complaints against alleged irregularities in the rate contract with the successful bidder resulting that even after the passage of more than one and half year since procurement of 25 vehicles for their modification as Critical Care Ambulances, the proposal in this regard could not take practical shape. Out of these 25 vehicles, 12 were meant for Jammu and 13 for Kashmir.
The previous order was placed to the firm in 2012 and the Administrative Department had cancelled the agreement last year after taking technical opinion of the Finance Department.
To avoid any fresh controversy and delay in the job work, the Government decided to strictly adhere to the National Ambulance Code, under which international level services with improvised equipments in the ambulances are required to be provided for safety and comfort of the patients. As per the Code, there are more than 15 major specifications, including ABS material fabrication, foldable stretcher with no jerk, evacuator, ventilator, shock absorber equipments, well insulated and Air Conditioned vehicle etc.
Besides, several detailed recommendations of the Union Ministry of Surface Transport were also incorporated in the conditions to be fulfilled while fabricating the vehicles into Critical Care Ambulances by the short listed firms.
When contacted, Minister for Health and Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that the Critical Care Ambulance would be available very soon as the proposal for fabrication of 25 vehicles into CCA is likely to be cleared by the State Cabinet in next few days.
The Government is committed for providing best possible health care services to people of Jammu Kashmir and 200 ambulances with GPRS were recently provided to the Health authorities, he said adding that the proposal for fabrication of Critical Care Ambulances is likely to be brought before the Cabinet for approval in next week.
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