ZHL launches ‘Dial 108 in Emergency’ Service in Public Private Partnership with Govt. of Odisha

Bhubneshwar, March 5, 2013: The residents of Odisha can now dial 108 in any emergency and get a well equipped ambulance free of cost as part of the Odisha Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (OEMAS) launched in the state from today. Dial 108 Service, under the Oidsha Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (OEMAS) Project was flagged off by the Chief Minister of the Odisha, Naveen Patnaik at Durga Puja Grounds in Bhubneshwar amongst huge fanfare.

The government of Odisha conceptualised this state-wide modern emergency ambulance service in collaboration with an eminent company based in Mumbai, Ziqitza Health Care Ltd. The project will be run under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode and in the first phase will cover the 15 districts in the state with a network of fully equipped 280 ambulances in phase 1.

Through a single toll – free emergency number 1-0-8, any individual, in any medical emergency situation, can call and get help in an average of 20 minutes in urban and 30 minutes in rural areas. The 108 Emergency Response Services is dedicated to help save lives in an emergency.

While launching the service, Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha said, "It gives me great pleasure to announce the launch of Odisha Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (OEMAS) which has been a long pending need of the people of Odisha. Even a single road crash and fatality is a loss to state, nation, family and society. This service will help save a lot of innocent lives which were lost due to lack of emergency response service. We will provide all the support and assistance needed to ensure that this OEMAS is available to all the people of Odisha across the districts, towns and villages.”

The state government and ZHL had signed an agreement earlier on August 1, 2012. Thereafter, infrastructure such as custom-made ambulances equipped with life-saving equipment, state-of-the-art call centre, IT and network equipment and so on were procured and organised, and training of the emergency medical technicians (EMT) who would provide emergency care to the needy was also imparted.

The first lot of 280 ambulances will be operational in the districts of Angul, Bhadrak , Baleswar , Cuttack , Dhenkanal , Ganjam , Jajpur , Khurda, Keonjhar , Koraput , Mayurbhanj , Puri , Rayagada , Sambalpur and Sundargarh.

From these districts, anyone irrespective of income, caste, religion, age and gender, can call 108 in an emergency from anywhere at any time 24 x 7 and they will be assisted.

A centralised Call Centre has been set-up in Bhubaneswar city. The centre is equipped with the latest technology and infrastructure with trained manpower. The ambulances are strategically located in the operational district in such a way that the entire district can be covered within minimum time. The entire service right from a person making a call to the necessary pre-hospital care in the ambulance and taking the victim to the nearest hospital will be absolutely free to every citizen in Odisha.

“We truly appreciate the efforts and support received from the Govt. of Odisha and specially the Honorable Chief Minister of the Odisha, Naveen Patnaik and Minister of Health and Family Welfare - Dr. Damodar Rout and all the officers of the Health Department, for the noble initiation and all the support provided so far which has helped us launch the service in Odisha.” said Sweta Mangal, CEO, Ziqitza Health Care Ltd.

ZHL had been set up with a vision to assist in saving human lives by providing a leading network of fully equipped Advanced and Basic Life Support Ambulances across the developing world. ZHL is currently operating 860 Ambulances across Mumbai, Bihar, Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan. ZHL has reputed investors like Acumen Fund, GMR/AMR (USA largest Ambulance Company), HDFC, IDFC and India Value Fund on board.  ZHL’s Strategic Partners include London Ambulance Services, Life Supporters Institute of Health Science and New York Presbyterian Emergency Medical Service (NYP-EMS).

ZHL has currently more than 4800 people working tirelessly, day and night, to serve people in India. Since inception ZHL has served more than 2 million people across India.