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Mangalore: Exposed - 108 'Emergency' Ambulance Service

  •   Tue, Sep 20 2011 04:53:42 PM

Mangalore: Exposed - 108 'Emergency' Ambulance Service

Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Sep 20: The poor standard of the 108 ambulance service and the call centre came to the fore when a senior journalist dialled the number expecting  quick response from them. A woman aged about 20 who was shivering from fever had taken shelter at the Rao & Rao circle here on Tuesday September 20. It is not known where the woman is from.
 
When the journalist, after giving a cup of coffee and some food to the girl, called 108 at around 10 am he was told that the ambulance would arrive at the spot in 15 minutes as the distance between Wenlock and Rao & Rao circle (near State Bank) is half a kilometre. In the meantime, he also informed the police.

However, after half an hour, 108 service staff in Mangalore called him back to confirm the incident. During the course of the conversation, the person also asked the journalist how he could guarantee them that she has fever. Even though the address had been given to the call centre in Bangalore, he was made to go through it again.

When asked about the delay, he was told that the ambulance was near Jyothi circle attending another case. This has given rise to the question whether ambulances in Government hospitals are in limited numbers - if two accidents take place in two different places, will they be able to attend only one of them?.
 
Finally, when the ambulance arrived on the spot, the truth was revealed by the driver of the ambulance. He said he was a resident of Karwar and does not know the place very well. This again made the public gathered ask why drivers who are not familiar with the place are hired.

Later, she was admitted in Wenlock hospital. Locals who had gathered were also furious about the quality of 108 service and said if such cases take place in the heart of the city, what would be the fate of patients in the outskirts.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Ranjith, Bangalore

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Let us all give way when an Ambulance or 108 Response team comes from behind. I have seen 108 vehicles getting stuck behind when the traffic lights are red. Agreed, you have to obey rules when it is red, STOP. But, NOT when a life behind is struggling to reach hospital, that can save a life. I have seen people with careless attitude sitting in front of the 108 ambulances. But imagine if it was their family members who are in those vehicles. Let us pledge that we will slow down the vehicle and put the indicators and stop the vehicle for the 108 ambulances to pass through without any difficulty.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Wed, Sep 28 2011

    whether it is 108 or 1008....when Popi Kaala Comes...nobody will be arroud...even if they are around, they cant help...!!!???

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Venky, Banglore

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    Funds can be transported in any vehicle. Why only this. Let us not simply allege and tarnish a service without any evidence.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lancelot Saldanha, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 24 2011

    Gud work Sir....Please continue the gud deed....... Both Yeddy's Photo and Sriramalu's Photo's must be removed from the 108 Ambulance. Only then they may be prompt on an Emergency Call......Looks Like they are on standby to attend an Emergency Call from the Lokayuktha Court in case both are Arrested soon.......???????

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Romans Lobo, Kaikamba

    Wed, Sep 21 2011

    While I appreciate the efforts of the journalist, I feel may be this one is a isolated incident. As in my case i sought thrice the services of 108 to help the needy, they were prompt both call center as well as the ambulance with para medical staff.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 21 2011

    108 Ambulance service should have a separate cell within the Govt Hospitals. The in-charge of this cell should be answerable to all queries and failures.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi Ullal, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 21 2011

    Ronald D, Udupi first and foremost please stop commenting according to the political party whom you support. When your congress and JDS govt was there in the state there was no such 108 emergency ambulance facility. As i know 108 ambulance is giving good service. There are one or two cases where the things went wrong, but would like to ask you one thing have the media channels given the news when 108 ambulance gave good service?? I agree with Sandesh Shetty's comments. The people here have taken 108 ambulance for granted and dont know where and when to use it.

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  • Sandesh Shetty, Bangalore/Kudla

    Wed, Sep 21 2011

    Ronald D, Udupi the people like you and media channels are waiting for an for some news against BJP state govt. By the way you talk about emergency. Emergency means use it only in the case of emergency. I will ask you one thing in case if someone is suffering from cold and fever and wants to go doctor. So can we call 108 ambulance?? In this case i dont know what to say the people instead of taking the person to hospital which is within the distance of 200 to 500 meters are waiting for 108 ambulance which has to come from some kilometers away.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ganesh, Mysore

    Wed, Sep 21 2011

    108 Services is an excellent service provider for which myself is an example. One incident here & there will will be delayed, we need to take these incidents as exceptions & cannot pass judgements based on one such example... Great job done by 108 in the state so for, specially for rural public.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • brijesh, mangalore

    Wed, Sep 21 2011

    Even i had experienced the same sort of problem around months bak in tumbhe, a bike met with face on accident with the car and i called up 108, they questioned me bout the total distance from the spot to the main junctions near by. later on after 5 mins they called me back to confirm, then i had to take that man to BA hospital in a auto. Very poor service from 108. always thee would be a lot of service defects from 108. but not all incidents will come to light.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • vivian, dubai

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    It is better to appoint pizza delivery boys atleast they will take care more than pizza i think within 30 minutes service nahi tho charges free...

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Sandesh Shetty, If passerby need to arrange emergency services, why do we need 108 with Yeddy development photograph? Let us pay tax to to the onlooker and passerby!! You manage the thamash for not paying taxes....fight with the tax collecting authority!! Onlookers shall try to replace yeddy Photo to yours!!

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  • Ahmed, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Everything in our place is like "Chalta Hai", It's a pity that we have such a pathetic system. I personally never experienced calling any ambulances. However, I heard that these are generally used at the time of operation "kamala" for transporting funds. Lokayukta should keep an eye on these at the time of elections.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Shabeeb Ahmed, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Good work Journalist wanted to expose it in this way with minor issue. 108 have same prob they don't accompany the people who supported 108 above i don't think so you should support them when they support public when they have duty to do they keep patience and come i saw many 108 passing by as empty with emergency siren and we give a way to it and a bit ahead when we go and have look that time they would be taking thier tea break lol!!! i guess they are hurry for thier food and own health not bothered about the public life!!!

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  • Mohandas, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Though this may be the case, but it is not same all the time. A known person of mine 2 years back, when he had been to Central Market with his wife for vegetable purchase had faced with a similar problem. While walking with oversight her leg got trapped in hole in footpath beneath which there was water tresspassing. She fell unconsious as she was 7months (pregnacny). Sombody called 108, & within 15 minutes the ambulance was present, of course she was taken to Wenlock & she was attented well. In fact, he was praising of its help for a very common man. So there may be some excuse but this faciility is really helpfull.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen Kumar, Mangaluru/Bengaluru

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    balanna, Dubai/Mangalore 108 ambulance is meant for serious cases when the people cannot afford to take the person in their own vehichle. In this case someone could have taken the lady to the hospital instead of watching the tamasha and blaming 108 ambulance later.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Madhav, Udupi

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    similar experience i also had about six month back when I called 108 ambulance in the night to take my neighbour who was in a critical condition to KMC Hospital Manipal.
    Instead of providing quick service, the person who contacted on second time after 30 minutes, was started unwanted queries such as patient name, his condition, how long he was suffering, the present condition.
    upset over his queries, I banged him saying that whether 108 is for quick service or for mere inquiry. I told him i have made other arrangement. This is the service of "108" emergency service.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Sandesh Shetty, Bangalore/Kudla

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Why to wait for 108 ambulance everytime. I can see in the above picture many people are standing and watching the tamasha. If they are really concerned about that sick women someone could have taken intiative and taken her to the hospital in a auto or in their own vehicle.

    CAGA, UDUPI i agree with you instead of waiting for 108 ambulance and blaming someone could have taken the lady to the nearest hospital.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • balanna, Dubai/Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    If this is the fate of best Ambulance service what help we can expect from other ordinary Ambulnace Service. Dr. Kamath says it is not a big issue for fever. What if there was a case of cardiac arrest

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Dr Kamath Mumbai.....fever is not the subject/issue here.In city like Managalore if the service is like this, how could in villages which has no proper access of roads doing the service with out any complaint so far?So in this particular issue the it makes sense that the 108 driver's behavior and counter questions towards social worker/Journalist's integrity really questionable.Daijworld's investigative journalism of vital service of the state Govt is appreciated.

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  • peter, badhyar/ Paris-on Tour

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Efficiency is counted by time consumed to attend an any emergency.108,ple keep it up. you are sure to reach at the earliest when the flame is off and unless you are involed in that situation.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr S Kamath, Mumbai

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    As for as my Knowledge 108 ambulance service in karnataka hasbeen given to the Best Ammulance service in India that is EMRI .Its Head office is located in Hyderabad. It was first started by Satyam Group as Charity and YSR was the first Chief minister who brought that into Government scheme .They are operating in more than 12 states now might have increased including Tamilnadu,AP ,Jarkhand,Gujarat etc .In Bangalore city they are one of the best ambulance for just Rs 500 to 750 you will be picked up that is what I heard being in the Field of medicine I feel we should not make it a big issue for just a delay of 30 minutes for fever case .If Cardiac case yes it should be Fast .Off course surely they need to put as much local drivers as possible so that they know the route well

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Abu Mohammed, Mulky/Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    FYI, this service implemented not serve the needy, but to advertise the Yeddy & Ramulu, it is holding their pictures as if the whole project is from their pocket, since these two are former now, the Govt should tear off their pictures.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • CAGA, UDUPI

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    I really wonder what those Police Guys were doing standing next to the girl. If they know that the ambulance is going to get late, why don’t they take her to the nearest clinic/hospital and give her a first aid checkup. Rather they stand next to the girl with a pity face, I bet they wouldn’t treat the same to their own family member. Things need to be changed and if this is the case of city, what would be sad stories of villages around. It would be like stone age where victims family members would be waiting and praying god for some miracle. I really fail to understand why our local authorities are not able to bring these issue up instead they would bring caste in between to manipulate people for their own benefits.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Madava Nayak, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Well said, Mr.N.P., mangalore.

    Ambulance with curruption LOGO. No need to expect any service.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • RIAZ, MANGALORE

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    DAIJI, Thank you for the article.
    For your information 2 years before a OMLEET making gud agadi fell down & broken. When i visited this year to Mangalore still the gud agadi in broken condition. Mangalore municipality never bothered to remove the Agadi from the street.

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  • N.P., mangalore

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    It carries yeddys pic on it ... so what that 108 can do first clean them with cowdung and restart the service again.. it will be worth doing that ...

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Siddiq BK, Baikamapdy

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Good job by senior journalist and I really appreciate his social concern...

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • DSOUZA, MANGALORE

    Tue, Sep 20 2011

    Well done Mr.Journalist good job...Next time do same thing for PCR (newly introduced police service) also

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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