DHANGADHI: Sudur-Paschim provincial government has bought well-facilitated ambulances for 16 constituencies of seven hilly districts of the state.

It has been reported that the Ministry of Social Development of the province invested around Rs 62.5 million to purchase 16 ambulances.

Daya Krishna Panta, Senior Public Health Officer at the Ministry of Social Development estimated that the "B-grade" standard ambulance after custom duty waiver cost around Rs 3.9 million each.

Panta who confirmed that the handover of the ambulance will be done before Dashain said that the registration process in transport management office is ongoing.

"The management of ambulance maintenance and selection of a driver would be handed over to one local level of each constituency," informed Panta.

The sixteen new ambulances will have full air conditioning along with various other facilities such as heartbeat monitor, oxygen cylinder, and other safety equipment, stated Gogan Bahadur Hamal, secretary at the Ministry.

Hamal, who assured that every ambulance will compulsorily have a health worker, further justified that due to lack of other services except siren and oxygen cylinder in the available ambulances of the province, the Ministry decided to buy new ambulances with more features to provide better health services.

As per the information provided by the Ministry, Kolti Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Tatey health post of Bajura district, Hikila and Khar health posts of Darchula, Rudreshwar and Kulau health posts of Baitadi, Matela and Raayal health posts of Bajhang, and Bhageshwar and Nawa Durga health post of Dadeldhura, District Hospital and Chamarachautara health post of Doti will receive the ambulance.

Meanwhile, in Achham, District Hospital and Babla health post will jointly receive one ambulance. Similarly, Bannigadhi and Binayak health posts will also jointly receive one ambulance.