Cracking a whip on gross indiscipline, Goa Health department on Saturday suspended 20 staff attached to emergency ambulance services, following surprise inspection.

State health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday night conducted surprise inspection along with the officials of various ‘108’ ambulances which are stationed at different locations.

“Few of the staff was found abandoning the ambulances in the night. This is a serious lapse. We cannot play with the life and death of people. You can’t just park the ambulances and disappear,” Rane said.

He said the department has suspended 20 staff attached to ‘108’ ambulance services for indiscipline, while new people are replaced on their posts so that the services are not affected.

The Health Minister last week had warned the ambulance staff of any indiscipline on work and had asked them to increase the efficiency of this life saving facility.

Rane said that during the inspection, it was found the ambulances dedicated to neo-natal care were very much active.

“The department would be procuring ten more advanced ambulances with trained staff byMay 15 and they would be launched by May 25,” he said.

The minister said that the department has decided to closely monitor the ambulance services across the State as it is the most essential services to serve the people.

He said there will be total reshuffle of the staff in Directorate of Health Services to streamline the functioning and bring in efficiency.

The minister has also called for the meeting of all medical officers in the State on Monday(tomorrow) in Panaji to review the health services across the State.

Team TNV