Meghalaya to soon get 11 ALS ambulances: DHS

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 9, 2021

Eleven advanced life support (ALS) ambulances will be reaching the state very soon to help in effectively tackling the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

This was informed by the Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War during a news conference held on Monday.

“The process of procuring the ALS ambulances is still on. The ALS ambulances, 11 of them, will be reaching the state,” Dr War said.

Earlier, the opposition Congress had alleged that many precious lives have been loss due to the non-availability of the ALS ambulances.

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma had also accused the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma of lying to the people of the state that the ALS ambulances will be made available within a period of two weeks after a meeting chaired by the Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.

When asked, the Director said that within one week, the correct position of the ALS ambulances will be given. “This is because it is not only from the state fund but it is also from the central funds so it has to go together…the modalities have been thrashed out and the procurement is already in the process,” he informed.

He said the cost of each ambulance varies from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakhs.

According to Dr War, there are four ALS ambulances of which one at the stepdown COVID hospital at Umsawli, one in Shella, one in Laitkynsew and one in NEIGRIHMS hospital.