Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has approved the continuation of the Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) scheme for another five years. The decision was made in a State Cabinet meeting held today.
The EMAS, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the Government of Odisha, has been operational in the state since March 5, 2013, under the “National Ambulance Service” banner. Known as the 108 Emergency Medical Ambulance Service, it provides free pre-hospital emergency medical services across Odisha.
The approved scheme, Phase-II, will be implemented from 2023-24 to 2027-28. It aims to serve an estimated 11 to 12 lakh emergency cases annually, including pregnant women and children, with a target response time of 20 minutes. The service is managed and monitored through a 24×7 Centralized Integrated 150-seated Call Center.
Currently, EMAS-108 operates with a fleet of 866 ambulances, comprising 411 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, 449 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, and 6 boat ambulances.
The ambulance service is managed by a private agency selected through an open tender process. Financing for the project is structured on a reimbursement basis, as per the agreement between the Government of Odisha and the service provider.
The State Government has allocated ₹239845.26 lakh for the implementation of this scheme over the five-year period.