Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday flagged off 466 emergency vehicles in Hyderabad.
The vehicles flagged off at People's Plaza on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake include 204 ambulances (108 services), 228 Ammavodi vehicles (102) and 34 Free Hearse vehicles.
State Home Minister T. Harish Rao said these vehicles will further strengthen the emergency healthcare services towards achieving the goal of Arogya Telangana.
He said these vehicles will reach patients quickly and ensure that their medical needs are attended to.
The minister said at the time of the formation of Telangana, the state had 316 ambulances and now the number has increased to 455. In the past, there was one 108 vehicle for one lakh people but today one vehicle is available for every 75,000 people.
He stated that the average response time for 108 ambulances has come down to 15 minutes from earlier 30 minutes.
"In 2014, there were no Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances but today every district has one such ambulance. At the time of formation of the state, there were no ambulances for newborn but today there is one such ambulance in every district. Ammavodi vehicles are providing services to 4,000 pregnant women every day while 108 vehicles are catering to 2,000 people. There were no Ammavodi vehicles in 2014 but today there are 300 such vehicles," he said.
"Similarly, there were no free Hearse vehicles when the state was formed. Today, the state has 50 such vehicles. They are providing services for an average 35 death cases every day. The government has taken several measures to strengthen healthcare services in the state. A 100-bed hospital is being established in every constituency," he claimed.
The government is also setting up a medical college in every hospital. Four Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) hospitals in Hyderabad and Health City in Warangal will increase the number of beds in government schools to 50,000.
Harish Rao claimed that the state's healthcare system is equipped to tackle any pandemic situation like Covid-19.
He announced that the state government will pay the mobile phone bills of ASHA workers. Smart phones will be provided to newly appointed ASHA workers in Hyderabad.
The minister said the salaries of 108 employees will be enhanced in four slabs.
(With inputs from IANS)
