Health & Family Welfare department has refuted the allegations in social media, that the recently purchased ambulances were second hand. In a clarification, H&FW principal director Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie stated that since ambulances were no longer readily available in the market, the state government, in view of the COVID-19 crisis, purchased them from Uttar Pradesh.
The 10 ambulances, having registered in UP, were transferred from the surplus fleet of 108 Emergency Medical Transport Services, UP (East). The ambulances are brand new and not as alleged in the social media, Dr. Suokhrie stated. He also gave the breakup of the price of an ambulance– One ambulance cost Rs. 14,06,250 + GST of Rs. 39,3750 total= Rs. 18,00,000 (10 ambulance x Rs.18,00,000= Rs. 1.8 crore)
Meanwhile, H&FW has welcomed any individual come and check the mileage of the ambulances, to ascertain that they have not been used earlier.
It may be mentioned that the 10 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances were delivered on Wednesday.