Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In a significant move to improve emergency medical transport services in Odisha, a meeting was convened under the chairpersonship of Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, alongside Ms. Aswathy S. Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department. The meeting focused on developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for private ambulance services across the state.
The discussion underlined the need for more openness, operational consistency, and citizen accessibility in light of the significant role private ambulances play in filling important healthcare shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas. In order to do this, a campaign-mode registration push was launched in order to unify all private ambulances on a single platform. In addition to streamlining enforcement and facilitating effective, real-time service provision, this initiative will aid in the development of a verified database.
The idea to provide incentives for private ambulance operators to register and follow service regulations was a significant focal point of the discussions. It is anticipated that incentive programs and clear regulations would promote wider involvement and guarantee voluntary adherence to the changing framework. Strict enforcement measures to stop illegal or exploitative activities will help this. Additionally, the Vehicle Location Tracking System (VLTS) will be connected with all registered ambulances, enabling GPS-based monitoring and expedited emergency response. Additionally, there are plans to integrate ambulance services with the Odisha Yatri App, resulting in a smooth, technologically advanced platform that would improve last-mile healthcare delivery by enabling individuals to find, schedule, and receive ambulance services with ease.
The agencies also suggested creating a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for fare control in order to shield citizens against capricious charges. To maintain affordability and equity across time and regions, the pricing structure will be adjusted to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
