Govt puts forward plan for ambulance network
Aneesh Phadnis I TNN

Mumbai: If a state government initiative takes shape, Mumbai will soon have
a pool of well-equipped government, civic and private ambulances and a call
centre to accept requests for ambulances from residents.

    "We want to promote emergency medical services. Our idea is to create a
public-private partnership model and to integrate resources from public and
private hospitals,'' said A M Khan, principal secretary, medical education.

    Khan and health secretary Vijay Satbir Singh had discussed the issue
with central officials at a meeting in New Delhi on Monday. The Centre had
called a meeting of all state governments to revamp a scheme for providing
emergency medical services on the state highways.

    "There are about 5,000 ambulances in the state but several act as mere
carriers and are not fully equipped. In an emergency medical service system,
trained medical staff and a doctor must be deployed in an ambulance. The
call centre will have to be linked to the ambulances and public and private
hospitals. We are considering all issues and examining the financial aspects
of the project,'' said a state official.

    Government officials are in contact with Ambulance Access for All, a
city organisation which runs an ambulance service and a call centre, for the
purpose. The state also plans to frame a law to regulate emergency medical
services.

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