Biometric attendance for ambulance staff on cards

| RUPSA CHAKRABORTY

Published : Apr 17, 2016, 2:13 am IST

Updated : Apr 17, 2016, 2:13 am IST

Every day, the brave hearts of the Maharashtra emergency medical services ambulances rescue hundreds of needy people but often they are being criticised for being absent from duty.

Every day, the brave hearts of the Maharashtra emergency medical services ambulances rescue hundreds of needy people but often they are being criticised for being absent from duty. To address such issues, the state public health ministry will make biometric attendance compulsory for all staffers working at the emergency services to bring more transparency and provide better facilities to patients.

In a welcome step, the ministry has instructed the officers of 102 and 108 to make biometric attendance compulsory for all the paramedical staffers, doctors and attenders. Last week, a GR was released to them. The reports would be submitted to the ministry every day and if the concerned persons fail to do so, they might face punishment.

“Ambulances are the main helpline that are responsible in saving a person’s life or rescuing one in need. So, it is essential to strengthen the branch of health service. We get complaints from patients regarding the absence of ambulance workers. So, this initiative was taken. Actually, we are in the process of making biometric attendance compulsory for all government departments,” said Dr Deepak Sawant, state health minister.

The entire responsibility will be shouldered by the health commissioner to look into the matter and keep an eye on it if it is being implemented properly. “Stringent action would be taken if a person on duty is found missing or absent without any reason. Previously, it was tough to find missing persons as all the records were maintained on paper, which often got manipulated. However, now it would be better to monitor all the records,” said an employee working with 102.

Recently, the state health department declared the launch of 10 ‘On the bike ambulance services’ to reach the accident spot faster, which can help in curbing the mortality rate by 20 per cent. In fact, if sources placed close to the project are to be believed, the ministry has a plan to link these bike ambulance services with the biometric attendance also.