Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited(JKMSCL) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the M/s BVG India Limited for outsourcing and operationalization of 102 and 108 ambulance services across the State, an official spokesman said here this evening.

He said the MoU was signed in presence of FinancialCommissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo here, who asked theconcerned agencies to work in close coordination and effective implementation ofthe prestigious project.

Among others, Mission Director, National Health Mission,J&K, Managing Director, Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies CorporationLimited (JKMSCL) and other officers of the Department were also present. Thefunding agency for the project is NHM, J&K, JKMSCL--which has alreadyreceived the formal approval from Government of India in this regard.

The intervention will prove to be a boon in saving preciouslives by providing timely medical care to people particularly residing infar-flung and difficult pockets of the state. The state government will bring afleet of 416 ambulances under the ambit of this service, which will beoperationalised through a centralised call centre working on 24×7 basis. 102Ambulance Service will provide free of cost service to the targeted population(pregnant women, sick children etc).

Accordingly, an agreement was executed between M/s BVG IndiaLimited and M/s Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited for theroll-out of the project within a period of 12 weeks from the date of executionof the agreement.

Regarding the operational component, the officials informedthat Operationalization of 116 ambulances which includes the provision of humanresources including drivers and paramedical, running and maintenance cost ofthese ambulances 24x7 basis, establishment and operationalization of callcentres (toll-free) for effective management of ambulances services includingdeployment of these at strategic locations across the state of Jammu andKashmir.

The officials further said that the running and integrationof call centre for the existing fleet of 300 ambulances. For these 300ambulances (roadworthy) only for the software and GPRS Devices, calltransfer/receiving and keeping the records of such calls. The manpower,maintenance and fueling of these ambulances shall be done by the end-user i.e.Directorate of Health Services, Jammu and Kashmir.