Shillong, Sept 27: Health Minister, A.L Hek said that the state government has submitted a proposal to the Centre for extending the ‘drop back mother and child’ ambulance as well as 102 ambulance services in the state.

“We have already sent the proposal to the government of India for sanction,” Hek said while replying to a supplementary query raised by Independent MLA from Mawphlang, SK Sunn in the Assembly on Thursday.

At present, Hek informed that there is a fleet of 48 ambulances in the entire state. Another 42 more ambulances have been proposed by the state government.

The Health Minister earlier informed the Assembly that the State government in partnership with GVK EMRI (implementing agency) had launched the pan state emergency response service (ERS) “Dial 108” on February 2, 2009.

According to him, the services offered included emergency care services, and render quality pre-hospital care and transport of the patient to the appropriate health care facility.

In 2009, the fleet size was 15 ambulances which operated under PPP mode. The service was initially introduced in two districts, East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills, and over the course of 2009, the services were extended to seven districts of the state.