Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The state government is revising the air ambulance service contract launched in May. Although the number of patients to be carried by means of air ambulance is less, the government is paying a fixed amount to the company from which it took the ambulance. This is causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. The contract for air ambulance service with ICATT Company is ending on Friday.
The health department has already extended the contract for three months and started a fresh process for to issue tender for air ambulance service to another company. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav started air ambulance service in March, but it officially began from May 29. In the past six months, only 35 patients have been given this facility.
Out of 35, 10 availed of the service by paying charges and 25 got it free of cost. According to the agreement with ICATT Company, the government has to pay Rs 2, 00, 000 to the firm for an hour. A fixed amount will be paid after 100 hours according to the agreement. So, the government is paying Rs 2 crore to the company every month. Although six months have passed since the air ambulance service started, the helicopter did not fly for 100 hours.
The state government started the service as a pilot project. Because the government is incurring loss, it is going to float a tender with new terms and conditions. According to sources, the fixed amount for 100 hours will be done away with in the fresh tender. The fixed hours will be decided on the basis of average services in the past six months. The company is still using a single-engine helicopter. Now, the contract will be given to the company that flies a double-engine helicopter.
Many lives saved
Air ambulance service has saved the lives of many people. For air ambulance service, request is sent to the health department after the chief medical and health officer concerned goes through all the documents. After National Health Mission, checks all the papers and condition of the patients, it approves the request. Once the NHM gives its nod, the ambulance service is made available to a patient.
