For patients’ safety, Centre to bring in ambulance code

In a move that will go a long way in ensuring safety of patients being transported to hospitals, the Centre is set to bring a national code for ambulances across India.

In a move that will go a long way in ensuring safety of patients being transported to hospitals, the Centre is set to bring a national code for ambulances across India.

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In the absence of a uniform code, often makeshift goods vehicles or vans without either the required safety specifications or medical equipment are passed off as ambulances.

The national ambulance code, proposed by the road ministry, is likely to be finalised soon. The first of its kind code will not only spell out the basic details such as the mandatory colour pattern that ambulances must have, but will also include design specifications such as the height of stretchers, electrical system that must be fitted inside the vehicle for it to qualify as an ambulance.

The focus, a ministry officials said, is on design safety.

"The draft code, being prepared by a committee set up by the ministry, will be submitted by August end after which we would invite objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public. We hope to notify it by early next year," said a road ministry official.

Once it gets notified, only vehicles that adhere to the mandatory specifications mentioned in the code will be registered as ambulance. “While all new ambulances will have to adhere to the code, existing ones which do not adhere to the code would be phased out gradually,” said an official.

Officials said at present only a handful of ambulances that ply for big hospitals stick to some of these standards. “There is a need to bring a minimum level of ambulance safety and standard. In the absence of minimum standards, many people convert their personal vehicles to ambulance,” said an official.

The code will also define the different categories of ambulances such as first responders, patient transport ambulance, basic life support etc.