This is the first initiative of the present Meghalaya Progressive Alliance Government to take health to the common people through the Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode. Private Public Partnership in the Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Community Health Center (CHCs) has become imperative in the health sector because of the shortfall in the number of doctors especially in the rural areas. The Government is keen to ensure quality health care to all sections of society through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The Government of Meghalaya has taken keen interest in taking this initiative forward. It is to be noted here that the Government was able to set up this Emergency Response Center in a matter of 88 days after the signing of the MoU with the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI). According to the CEO of the EMRI Mr. Venkat Changavalli, ninety five per cent of the cost of maintaining and upkeep of the state of the art ambulances will be borne by the EMRI which is presently sponsored by Satyam and the remaining five per cent will be borne by the State Government. It is learnt that after the Satyam fiasco, the Company is looking for new sponsors to lend monetary support and around 6 corporates are showing keen interest. According to the data available, 2800 deaths are caused due to lack of access to hospitals, affordability and care.

The 108 Emergency Response Services with 15 state-of-the-art ambulances will presently be operational in the East Khasi and West Khasi Hills Districts. A total of 40 state-of-the-art ambulances, fully equipped to handle all types of emergencies will be launched in a phased manner up to June, 2009. The ambulances are equipped with medical equipment ranging from Defibrillators and Ventilators to extrication tools to handle any type of emergency situation. The ambulances are also equipped with GIS and GPS systems which will help them to locate the geographical position of the emergency scene and help the nearest ambulance to reach the victim.

An emergency response centre has been set up in the premises of the Ganesh Das Hospital, Lawmali equipped with 177 people and latest technology and infrastructure to run the operation. Right from making a call to rendering the necessary pre-hospital care and transporting the victim to the nearest hospital, the entire service will be free. For the first 24 hours, the hospitals having tie-ups with the EMRI will give free hospitalisation.

Meghalaya is the ninth state in the country to have signed an MoU with the EMRI-a brainchild of disgraced Satyam Computer Services founder B Ramalinga Raju-to run emergency ambulance service in the State using the helpline number 108.