In a troubling revelation from the tribal heartland of Odisha, 108 ambulance services in remote regions of Kandhamal district are allegedly operating without oxygen.
This failure puts the lives of critical patients—especially those in hard-to-reach areas like Barakhama—at serious risk.
At the Barakhama Group Health Centre, the only 108 ambulance has reportedly lacked oxygen for several days. When questioned, the pharmacist responsible admitted that the service was running without oxygen and even discouraged transporting patients in need of oxygen support. “We avoid shifting such patients as we lack the equipment,” the pharmacist reportedly said.
Despite repeated complaints to the ambulance service provider, no action has been initiated. This inaction has drawn sharp criticism from local residents, who allege that the ambulance network across Kandhamal is in shambles.
“The government spends crores on emergency care, yet in our area, ambulances either don’t arrive or arrive unequipped,” said a local health activist.
The absence of life-saving equipment like oxygen in ambulances highlights systemic neglect in healthcare service delivery in tribal belts. Citizens and activists are now demanding an urgent audit of ambulance readiness across the district and swift action from the health department.
