K`taka partners EMRI to roll out Arogya Kavacha

The Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Hyderabad-based Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) to roll out ‘Arogya Kavacha’, a scheme which provides free emergency services in the public private partnership (PPP) mode in rural and urban areas.

EMRI is a non-profit organisation founded and funded by B Ramalinga Raju, chairman, Satyam Computers, and his family. The institute, by partnering the state governments, offers professional emergency service through a call centre or response centre.

The state government as announced in this year’s Budget, released Rs 10 crore to operationalise the scheme.

The public health and family welfare department is expected to provide 10 acres to EMRI for establishing a call centre, training facilities for drivers, doctors, nurses and to house a few offices associated with it.

The department is expected to bear the expenditure on the necessary equipment and material (software), equipped ambulances, running cost of the centre, and human resources among others.

Speaking to reporters, Venkat Changavalli, chief executive officer, EMRI, said, “The institute is planning to cover the state in two phases. The phase I will see setting up of a 24x7 call centre with 75 seats and 150 ambulances. In phase II, all the 29 districts will be operationalised with 517 ambulances.”

The government and EMRI will be launching the emergency response services by integrating medical (hospitals, nursing homes), police and fire services (taluk level) in the state from November 1.

Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, said, “This scheme is devised keeping in mind the 10,000 deaths every year in the state from accidents. ‘Arogya Kavacha’ programme aims to offer timely transport facility to shift the victims of accidents to the nearest hospital.”