Improving Ambulance Services in India for All

Source: The post Improving Ambulance Services in India for All has been created, based on the article “BlinkIt’s ‘10-minute’ ambulances and the spectre of a larger malady” published in “Indian Express” on 11th January 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,

Context: The article discusses the growth of ambulance services in India, highlighting their importance, variations in quality, lack of regulation, and regional disparities. It emphasizes the need for standard protocols, trained staff, and affordable, efficient emergency care services.

For detailed information on India’s healthcare system on right track read this article here

How did ambulance services evolve in India?

1. Initially hospital-based services: Ambulances were initially available only at hospitals.
2. NGO involvement in the 1980s: NGOs in southern India started providing free and voluntary ambulance services in the 1980s.
3. Government services: In the last decade, several state governments introduced ambulance services targeting women of reproductive age and children under five years.
4. Institutional deliveries focus: Ambulances were introduced to transport expectant mothers to healthcare facilities under the National Rural Health Mission through public-private partnerships.
5. Private sector entry: Private ambulance services by corporate hospitals and standalone companies, such as Blinkit’s “10-minute” ambulance service in Gurugram, have emerged.

What is the significance of ambulance services in India?

1. Ambulance services are crucial for emergency medical care and patient transportation.
2. An increase in chronic diseases and road accidents has led to higher demand. Services include transporting patients and providing Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS).
3. The Indian ambulance market was valued at $1.5 billion in 2022. It is expected to grow at over 5% annually from 2024 to 2028.

What are the challenges in ambulance services?

1. Limited Critical Care Facilities: Only 3,441 of 17,495 ambulances have Advanced Life Support (ALS) units. Most function as basic patient transport facilities rather than emergency care providers.
2. Regional Disparities: Western states like Gujarat and Maharashtra dominate the market, while northeastern states face significant shortages.
3. Inadequate Staffing: Only 3% of hospitals have Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), despite 88% having in-house ambulances.
4. Poor Infrastructure: Only 12% of hospitals provide specialized care during patient transport.
5. Traffic and Road Challenges: Poor urban planning and traffic congestion in metros delay emergency response.
6. Lack of a Standard Toll-Free Number and Monitoring System: There is no nationwide toll-free number or monitoring mechanism to ensure timely and quality care.
7. Weak Regulation: Lack of standard protocols, fragmented licensing, and corruption lead to inconsistent service quality.

What should be done?

1. To enhance ambulance services, it is crucial to develop standard protocols, improve training and certification of paramedics, and address regulatory inconsistencies.
2. Publicly-funded services, public-private partnerships, and civil society initiatives are essential to provide affordable and efficient ambulance services in India.

Question for practice:

Examine the evolution, significance, challenges, and required improvements in ambulance services in India.