Buoyed by the response to the free bike ambulance service in Mumbai, the State government is planning to expand the fleet and run similar services in tribal-dominated regions.
The bike ambulance service, which was started in Mumbai in August last year to provide swift medical assistance to patients, has so far received around 1,500 calls from different parts of the metropolis. State Health Minister Deepak Sawant said, “Keeping in mind the exceptional response this bike ambulance service has received in Mumbai, the government is planning to launch 30 additional ambulance bikes, out of which 10 will be used in Mumbai.”
“It is difficult for a four-wheeler ambulance to go to hilly regions or reach the areas with narrow roads. But bike ambulances can reach such places easily. Therefore, [this service will be operated] in inaccessible places in Jawhar, Mokhada, Nandurbar and Melghat regions,” Dr. Sawant said.
The emergencyfirst responder service is available through the ‘108’ helpline. Paramedics ride the bikes to provide treatment to patients during the golden hour. The 10-bike fleet is operated by integrated services company BVG India.
