Govt set to take full control of 108 ambulance service from Jan | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: The state govt is set to take full control of the 108 ambulance service from the current private operator from Jan next year. As part of the transition, it has approved the establishment of a dedicated command and control centre and appointed an IAS officer to lead the new system.The command centre will handle emergency calls, deploy ambulances, and coordinate medical responses. The govt has sanctioned the recruitment of 3,631 personnel to operate the service.“This marks a major step towards bringing the ambulance service — a critical public service — under govt control,” said Harsh Gupta, principal secretary, health department. “Currently, the service is run by a private agency, and the govt is not satisfied with its performance. Hence, it has decided to operate it under its own control.”The Arogya Kavacha service, now being transitioned to govt management, had undergone a successful pilot in Chamarajanagar district. Following the trial, preparations are underway to expand the model across the state, with a central command centre as its backbone.According to officials, 3,631 posts — including 1,700 emergency medical service personnel — were cleared for recruitment in early Oct. In a subsequent order issued on Oct 31, the govt sanctioned four administrative positions for the command and control centre: Executive director (an IAS officer), deputy director (operations), deputy director (emergency medicine/public health), and deputy director (finance/logistics).The health department will also establish a call centre, a state programme management unit (SPMU), and district programme management units (DPMUs) to manage operations. Drivers will be recruited locally in each district to ensure faster response times. “Local drivers are familiar with their areas and can transport patients to hospitals more quickly and efficiently,” an official said.“Currently, the service is run by a private agency, and the govt is not satisfied with its performance. Hence, it has decided to operate it under its own control,” said Harsh Gupta, principal secretary, health dept.