A fleet of cadiac care ambulances were launched along with the STEMI program in Goa on 16 March, aimed at strengthening medical and emergency care services in the state.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on 16 March launched a fleet of Cardiac Care Ambulances in the city. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rane said the government was endeavouring to strengthen its mission of saving lives. He acknowledged the support of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in vitalising the medical sector in the state and said there was a vacuum in medical service in certain areas of Goa which the government was addressing in a responsible way.

Mr Rane said,"The Government is endeavouring to increase the scope of 108 ambulances. The government is also working on innovative models to provide health services to the people of Goa." The Cardiac Care ambulances are a critical component of the Goa State STEMI programme and are equipped with the state-of-the-art machines to deal with emergencies.

"This occasion also marks the launch of the STEMI program which will be done in phases," Mr Rane said, adding they would train doctors, medical officers etc to thrombolyse patients at centre points such as Primary Health Centres, before they were referred to hospitals. Present on the occasion were Head of Operations, GVK EMRI 108, Purti Patkar, Director of Directorate of Health Services, Dr Sanjeev Dalvi, Dean of Goa Medical College, Dr Pradeep Naik, senior doctors, among others.