Aiming to deliver healthcare system at doorstep of the needy, the Nadia district administration has introduced a one phone-call ambulance service.
The service was inaugurated with 50 ambulances in Krishnanagar.
“This service has been started to enhance and enforce the pre-hospital care to reduce the mortality and morbidity of victims of trauma and emergency cases,” District Magistrate Dr P B Salim, who is also the chairman of the movement in Nadia district, told.
These ambulances are fitted with GPS machines and connected to a central console in Krishnanagar and to avail an one has to dial 251111 a toll-free number, Salim, who was posted in Kerala in 2011, said.
“All the 50 ambulances are fitted with basic life support system and its operators have been provided with basic emergency medical care training. They along with their assistant will be able to provide basic life support training to patients before reaching hospitals, in emergency cases,” he elaborated.
“These 50 ambulances will be operating in different parts of the district. For the time being 40 will be operating and the rest 10 will start its service very soon,” Salim said.
In Nadia district the service, would follow the same Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model as in Kerala.
It was learnt, that the Angels, has provided the technical knowhow while United Bank of India, State Bank of India, ICCI Bank and a few NGOs are providing financial support to this initiative in the district.
On getting call from one critically-ill person, the control room in Krishnanagar would dispatch an ambulance nearest to the patient’s location.
“In fact, the ambulance driver will be sent a message on his mobile, instructing him about the patient’s location. The patient will have to pay the driver a fixed amount.