An ambulance, earlier inaugurated by Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal for Supebeda, a village in Devbhog inhabited by kidney patients, has been withdrawn. The situation has sparked an investigation.
The ambulance, contracted from a Raipur-based service, was operating without a proper agreement, budget, or fund allocation. The cost was set at ₹1.5 lakh per month for 2000 km. Extra costs were incurred for exceeding this distance, leading to a bill of ₹15 lakh for a ₹14 lakh ambulance over a year. A payment of ₹10 lakh was made from the central NHM fund, bypassing the required legal process. Following a change in the CMHO, the ambulance was recalled due to the irregularities. The financial aspects of the ambulance service are under investigation, prompting calls for a detailed audit.
Residents of Supebeda, the affected village, have also expressed their views. They are calling for the return of free blood tests and kidney medication, which they previously received, instead of the ambulance service. These vital services are no longer available to them.