PM Modi inaugurates country’s 1st air ambulance service from AIIMS Rishikesh
U’khand CM hails the service as life saver for people in crisis in remote areas
PNS | DEHRADUN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first heli ambulance service from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh in a programme held at All India Institute of Ayurveda on the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti in New Delhi on Tuesday.
In the programme the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various health sector projects worth Rs 12,850 crore. The chief minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the programme virtually from AIIMS Rishikesh.
Speaking on the occasion the CM said that with the start of heli ambulance service in AIIMS Rishikesh, the health services of the State will become strong and modern. The service will work as a lifesaver for the people in times of crisis.
The CM expressed his gratitude to PM Modi, Union Health minister JP Nadda and civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu for providing heli ambulance and drone facilities to Uttarakhand.
The CM said that Uttarakhand had been waiting for this service for a long time and it is a matter of great pride that the country’s first government heli ambulance is starting from AIIMS Rishikesh. He said that the service will function on the lines of 108 –ambulance service through which patients can be brought to AIIMS Rishikesh from every corner of the state free of cost.
Dhami said Uttarakhand is a State with difficult geographical conditions and many times difficulties are faced in taking the patient to a major hospital. In such a situation, a heli ambulance equipped with all life-saving facilities will work as a lifesaver for patients of remote and mountainous areas.
He said the toll-free number of the service will soon be issued and it will be linked to the district disaster management office of all 13 districts. Dhami added that the use of drones will also help in bringing blood samples and delivering medicines in remote areas.
He said that the state government is working towards opening a medical college in every district of the State. Work is also progressing rapidly on the satellite center of AIIMS Rishikesh in Kichha. The State government is currently providing the facility of 207 types of free pathology tests.
Former CM and Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, Finance minister Premchand Agarwal, Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat AIIMS Director Dr Meenu Singh and others attended the programme.
