Bike ambulances to be introduced in three districts

New Delhi: To provide immediate prehospital care response in congested areas of Delhi, bike ambulance facilities would be introduced on a pilot basis in three districts from January. 

A decision in this regard was taken during a meeting chaired by lieutenant governor (LG) Anil Baijal at Raj Niwas in a bid to explore the feasibility of improving emergency response services through introduction of first responder vehicles (FRVs).

“It was decided that the facility of FRVs will be introduced on a pilot basis in three districts — East, North-East and Shahadara from January 2018. In the first phase, 16 FRVs will be introduced,” the LG House stated. 

The meeting was attended by health minister Satyendar Jain, principal secretary (health), special commissioner (traffic) and Delhi Police chief spokesperson Dependra Pathak, and medical superintendents of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, and the commissioner of St. John’s ambulance brigade.

“This bike ambulance facility would provide quick pre-hospital care response in congested areas and also help in reducing the incidence of mortality and morbidity by ensuring that the patients receive appropriate medical care within the ‘golden hour,” the LG said.

The LG was told to tackle peak traffic hour situation, there was a need to deploy FRVs (two-wheelers) to complement and supplement the existing ambulances, the statement said.

“These FRVs will be driven by trained paramedics and shall carry basic first-aid kit, medical and other requisite items,” it said.

Mr Baijal was also apprised that FRV paramedics would reach the site, assess the condition of the patient/s, provide first-aid, if required, and stabilise the medical condition of the needy person till the arrival of medical ambulance, if needed at the site, the statement also read.