Dial 108 ambulance, the emergency response service, has touched a million-mark in Punjab. Started in 2011, a total of 10 lakh people have used ‘108’ ambulance service in the short span of less than four years. Making the medical help just three-digits away, the Punjab Government has started the service with just 90 ‘108’ ambulance service in eight border districts on April 3, 2011, which succeeded with the launching of 240 ambulances across the State in November. “Since then, all 240 ambulances have been providing services round-the-clock,” said Jitendra Sharma, Project Head, 108 ambulance and regional head of Ziqitza Health Care limited, the service providing company in the State.
“The Dial 108 ambulance service has proved as a life saver for a common man. On February 18, Ajnala-resident Sonu called at 108 and requested for ambulance to take her sister-in-law to Amritsar Civil Hospital for safe delivery. In very short time ambulance reached on scene and took the patient to hospital and became one millionth patient who availed 108 ambulance service,” said Sharma. “All 240 ambulances are well connected with 108 ambulance control room at Amritsar through GPS device installed in all ambulances. Agents present in control room attend calls and arrange to provide nearest ambulance to the patient,” he said.
Sharma said that all the ambulances are well-equipped with medical instruments and medicines required for basic life support ambulances and are being used by trained paramedical staff during transporting patient. “Most of the cases attended by 108 ambulances are for pregnant women for taking them to Government hospitals or take them back to home post-delivery with a newborn baby under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram. Out of total 10 lakh patients, 2.99 lakh are pregnant women and 2.30 lakh women used this service after expecting baby to reach back home,” said Sharma. He said that 1,353 pregnant women have delivered baby during transportation before reaching at hospital by trained paramedical staff under online guidance and instructions of doctors present in the control room.
Out of total 10 lakh users, 98 percent were taken to government hospitals for their treatment. “It has been seen that due to prompt and reliable services of 108 ambulances, there is an huge increase in institutional deliveries in government hospitals which resulted in a fall in infant mortality and mother mortality rates,” he said. “The service is provided even on festivals, in unfavorable circumstances like mob situations, or bad weathers and terrible cold, heavy rain of ludhiana and floods in Tarn Taran,” said Sharma.