The Oyo State Government has approved the purchase of  four buses and 30 tricycle ambulances at the cost of  N98 million to kick-off  its free ambulance services.

Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin,  the state Commissioner for Health,  made this known in Ibadan yesterday.

Gbadegesin said the ambulance project was designed to enable  health workers reach patients within a reasonable time in the metropolis and core rural areas of the state during emergencies.

He explained that the pilot scheme would take off from designated points on  Ife-Ibadan expressway, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Mokola-UI secretariat road as well as Moniya and  Challenge areas of  Ibadan.

The commissioner said  the tricycle ambulances would be deployed to core rural areas under designated sheds in the villages which would be  accessible to people for emergency cases.

He said  government also approved N50 million for the renovation of existing hospitals to enable health workers render efficient services to  patients.