MAPUSA
With the reported delay in ambulance services coming under scrutiny following the death of a 22-year-old woman in Sanguem, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday announced that Goa will get 40 new ambulances within a month and ordered weekly reviews of the 108 emergency service.
Rane said the new ambulances would strengthen emergency medical response, particularly in Bardez and other identified hotspots, while a tighter monitoring mechanism would hold agencies managing the 108 service accountable for operational readiness, hygiene and maintenance.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of concerns over the ambulance response in the Sanguem case, which the minister said must be taken seriously. Expressing sadness over the woman’s death, he said the circumstances would be examined internally without prematurely concluding whether the 108 service was at fault. “We will make sure people are satisfied. In fact, Goa’s healthcare model aims to put people first,” Rane said while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a BJP party event at Parra on Thursday. As part of the proposed monitoring mechanism, Rane has directed the health advisor to review the functioning of the 108 service every week. Monthly reviews involving the Under Secretary and the minister will provide an additional layer of scrutiny, he said.
The focus, according to Rane, will be on ensuring that ambulances remain functional and that the agencies responsible for operating them do not compromise on basic standards of service. The minister’s emphasis on accountability comes at a critical time for the emergency response system, where timely access to an ambulance can prove decisive. Beyond emergency care, Rane also sought to underline the government’s commitment to taking healthcare beyond hospital walls.
He later visited patients undergoing treatment and people receiving palliative care at their homes in Saligao, listening to their concerns and assessing the difficulties they face. He stressed that healthcare must extend to patients at their doorstep, with the government identifying gaps in service delivery and ensuring that those requiring continued care are not left struggling to access it. The twin emphasis on strengthening emergency services and reaching patients at home forms part of the minister’s stated vision of a people-first healthcare model.
