AP Govt inks MoU with Satyam Foundation

Hyderabad, Oct 5: The Andhra Pradesh Government today signed an MoU with the Satyam Foundation to provide emergency services through '108' under Emergency Media Research Institute (EMRI) and health information services through '104' under Health Management Research Institute (HMRI).

State Commissioner of Family Welfare Anil Punetha, EMRI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Venkat and HMRI CEO U Balaji signed the MoU in the presence of State Health Minister S Chandrasekhar here.

In his address, Mr Chandrasekhar said 95 per cent of the expenses of emergency and health information services would be borne by the government and the balance five per cent will be allocated by the Satyam Foundation.

Stating Satyam Foundation would provide the software and management required for the services, he said 502 ambulances would be pressed into service by the end of this month in Andhra Pradesh.

The government had allocated Rs 33 crore for emergency services and Rs 5.60 crore for Health Information Helpline (HIHL) under the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) during 2007-08, he said, adding the HIHL services would be provided in the districts of Anantapur, Srikakulam and Mahaboob Nagar where 'Rajiv Arogya Sri' providing free medical service to the poor was launched recently.

Rajiv Arogya Sri's logo would be emblazoned on ambulances, replacing the Satyam Foundation's logo from this year, the minister said.

UNI