Thiruvananthapuram, March 10 The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday directed the Health department to ensure that salaries are not withheld for ambulance staff under the KANIV-108 initiative.
The Kerala Ambulance Network for Injured Victims (KANIV) is the government's free emergency ambulance service in Kerala, accessible by dialing 108.
Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas stated that the denial of salaries to KANIV 108 ambulance staff should not be repeated.
The commission noted that the salaries of the ambulance staff were delayed due to the central and state funds not being paid to the company operating the service.
"Ultimately, the patients' rights were violated. Such a situation should never occur," the commission said, pointing out that people sought the service in emergency situations.
It directed the government to take steps to prevent such incidents from recurring and to seriously consider declaring KANIV108 ambulances as a public utility and bringing them under the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA).
The directions came in response to a complaint by Aneesh Maniyan based on news reports of some KANIV 108 staff stopping their services due to a delay in receiving their salaries.
The order stated that the Kerala Medical Services Corporation had not received central and state funds for operating the 108 ambulance service until July 27, 2024.
The corporation owes Rs 75.50 crore to the company operating the service, leading to non-payment of salaries to the employees, the commission noted.