Ambulance workers protest unpaid salaries; Kaniv 108 services between hospitals halted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ambulance services under the Kaniv 108 program have stopped functioning between hospitals as workers protest over delayed salaries. This disruption began after employees did not receive their pay for the previous month. The protest is being led by organisations like INTUC, BMS, and CITU. However, ambulances are still attending to emergencies at accident sites and homes.

EMRI Green Health Services, a Hyderabad-based company, operates the 108 ambulances under a contract with the Kerala Medical Services Corporation. They are responsible for paying the employees. The company claims that for the past year, bills worth ₹110 crores have not been approved by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation. As a result, salaries have not been paid, and the company says they cannot release payments until these arrears are cleared.

Employees have raised concerns, stating that although the Health Department released ₹40 crores to the Kerala Medical Services Corporation in February, the funds were not transferred to the contracted company. Additionally, bills issued from March 2024 to March 2025 remain unpaid. Meanwhile, the Medical Services Corporation has begun the process to select a new agency to run the ambulance service for the next five years.