The Odisha Cabinet has approved the procurement of 428 new ambulances to enhance emergency medical services throughout the state.
Of these, 421 ambulances will replace older Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (EMAS) vehicles that have exceeded five years of service or have covered more than 250,000 kilometers. Additionally, two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances will be stationed at the Cardiac Care Hospital in Jharsuguda, while five ALS ambulances will be allocated to airports and airstrips for improved emergency response.
Launched in 2013, the Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (EMAS) in Odisha provides free pre-hospital emergency medical services to the public. Currently, EMAS operates a fleet of 866 ambulances, which includes ALS, Basic Life Support (BLS), and boat ambulances, and handles approximately 1.1 to 1.2 million emergency cases annually.
The acquisition of new ambulances is anticipated to enhance response times and decrease maintenance costs. A total of ₹118.98 crore has been allocated for this initiative, with ₹118.06 crore sourced from the state budget and ₹0.92 crore from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) funds. This initiative is set to strengthen Odisha’s emergency healthcare services and provide better care to those in need.
