Lok Sabha Question No. 398 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Ambulance Services
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Behanan Benny

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 398 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 rd  FEBRUARY, 2023

## AMBULANCE SERVICES

## 398: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  quality  healthcare  by  ensuring  adequately equipped  ambulances,  especially  for  pregnant  women  belonging  to  socially  and  economically backward classes;

(b) if so, the details of steps taken in this regard;

(c)  the  reasons  for  lack  of  adequate  medical  equipment  and  trained  medical  staff  in  public ambulances;

(d)  whether  public  sector  ambulances  are  being  deliberately  discouraged  by  lowering  medical facilities in them; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to  (e)  The  primary  responsibility  of  strengthening  public  healthcare  system,  including efforts  to  have  required  number  of  ambulances,  especially  for  pregnant  women,  lies  with  the respective  State/UT  Governments.    The  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  provides  the technical  and  financial  support  to  the  States/UTs  to  strengthen  their  public  healthcare  system, based on the requirements posted by States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and within the overall resource envelope.

Under  the  National  Health  Mission,  various  steps  have  been  taken  to  support  the States/UTs for providing adequately equipped ambulances.  Some of the key steps are:

 MoHFW  has  launched  the  National  Ambulance  Services  (NAS)  under  the National Health Mission. Basic life support ambulances (BLS), Advanced life support ambulances (ALS) and patient transport vehicles (PTVs) are supported by the NAS. An ALS is supported for an average population of 5 Lakh and a BLS Ambulance is supported for over one lakh population. States are at liberty to propose the number of ambulances as per the norm to fill the gap.

 All  BLS  and  ALS  ambulances  are  running  with  centralised  call  centres  which  are presently functioning in States/UTs with the numbers 102 and 108. Norms for both ALS & BLS are defined for the number of drugs, equipment, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) etc.

 Dial 108 is predominantly an emergency response system, primarily designed to attend to patients of critical care, trauma and accident victims etc. Dial 102 services essentially consist of basic patient transport aimed to cater the needs of pregnant women and children though other categories  are  also  taking  benefit  and  are  not  excluded.  Janani  Shishu  Suraksha  Karyakaram (JSSK)  entitlements  e.g.  free  transfer  from  home  to  facility,  inter  facility  transfer  in  case  of referral and drop back for mother and children are the key focus of 102 service. For Dial 102 Service and Dial 108 Service, operational cost is supported under NHM.

 There are a total 2,423 Advanced Life Support Ambulances, 17,135 Basic Life Support Ambulances, 3,676 Patient Transport Vehicles, 17 Boat and 131 Bike presently supported by NHM in the country (NHM MIS September, 22).

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has issued the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS 125) also called the National Ambulance Code, that lays down the guidelines for state/UT governments and non-government organizations regarding the standards for ambulances  in  the  country.  It  is  mandatory  for  all  functional  ambulances  to  meet  the  criteria specified herein.

****