Mumbai: Raising concerns over delay in
implementation of emergency medical services, the Bombay High
Court today directed Maharashtra government to finalise within
two months the scheme proposed to provide medical facilities
to victims of highway accidents and natural and other
calamities in urban areas.
"The scheme should have been finalised and put in place
on emergency basis. Accidents occur everyday on highways," a
division bench headed by Justice D D Sinha said, while hearing
a public interest litigation filed by lawyer Dipesh Siroya.
Under the scheme, to be implemented by Public Health
Department, the government has proposed to purchase 937 fully
equipped ambulances for emergency medical services.
The court was today informed by government pleader Vijay
Patil that 690 ambulances would be stationed on state and
national highways passing through Maharashtra and the
remaining ambulances would be allocated to municipal
corporations across the state.
Patil told the court that the scheme would be implemented
in phases and after the last phase, every stretch of 100
kilometres on highways would have at lease one fully equipped
ambulance manned by trained staff.
Patil sought time to allow the state government to
finalise the scheme and spots where the ambulances should be
stationed on highways.
The court therefore directed the state government to
finalise details of the scheme, and also tender process for
purchasing ambulances within two months.
Siroya in his petition had sought directions to the
government to provide ambulances and also set up emergency
medical treatment facilities on highways contending that the
number of fatalities caused due to accidents could be reduced
substantially if primary medical treatment is provided to
accident victims within an hour of the incident.
PTI
