Govt clears home-to-hospital ambulance service in Delhi

The Delhi cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘home to hospital care’ scheme under which ambulances from the Centralized Accident & Trauma Services (CATS), an autonomous body under the Government of NCT of Delhi, will be used.

Residents of Delhi will soon be able to dial emergency ambulance services for free on the toll-free number 102.

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The Delhi cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘home to hospital care’ scheme under which ambulances from the Centralized Accident & Trauma Services (CATS), an autonomous body under the Government of NCT of Delhi, will be used.

Under the scheme, 110 new ambulances will be added to the existing fleet of 155. Out of the 265 ambulances, 100 will have basic life support systems and 10 will have advanced life support ambulances.

A modern control room would be set up for monitoring the movement of these ambulances.

CATS is used for speedy transport of accident victims, pregnant women and victims of sexual assault.

“This initiative is part of several other similar measures that our government has planned to improve the healthcare delivery system in the state. We want the people of Delhi to be picked up right from their doorstep and dropped at whichever hospital they would want to go to - private or public - during an emergency,” said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain.

The government has also promised to provide additional manpower required to operate the 110 new ambulances as well as fill up the current vacancies in the existing ambulance service and control room.

According to the government, residents who are drowsy or fall unconscious, have sudden urine retention, breathing problems, sudden and severe chest and abdominal pain, dislocated or broken bones, head injuries, deep cuts and profuse bleeding, poisoning, burns or severe allergies will be able to avail the emergency ambulance services.