Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 2: State health and family welfare minister, U T Khadar, informed that Karnataka, for the first time in the country, will be pressing into service 'Bike Ambulances' to serve the patients and accident victims stuck in congested areas or roads having heavy traffic. He said that this novel initiative, being undertaken by Karnataka ahead of other states, will begin moving around the city roads in November this year.

Speaking to journalists at Vikasa Soudha here on Friday August 1, Khadar said that preparations are afoot to ensure that these ambulances begin serving the people from November onwards. These motor bikes will be equipped with first aid kits, oxygen cylinders, and a driver who is trained in caring for the injured persons, he explained.

'In the first phase, these ambulances will serve Bangaloreans. In the later stage, the service will be extended to other city corporation limits in phases, like Mysore, Mangalore, etc. He explained that these bike ambulances will cost about two lacs apiece, and the department has decided to acquire 100 such vehicles. Out of them, 20 motor bikes will exclusively serve this city, he added.

'As soon as the control room gets information about any accident, information about the traffic situation on that route will be analyzed through GPS If the traffic is heavy or if it is found that it is out of reach for 108 vehicles, bike ambulances will be dispatched. Once first aid is provided, and if the injured person is in a condition that he can undertake motor bike travel, he would be taken to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, he would be shifted to the hospital through either 108 ambulance of other vehicle,' he explained. He added that being the pioneer of this scheme, Karnataka wants to keep everything in place, after having discussions with experts and health department experts, before pressing the scheme into service.

'We have already written to the home and urban development departments to earmark separate lanes for the movement of 108 ambulances in main roads in the city towards ensuring that patients reach the hospitals at the shortest period, which will go a long way in saving lives,' he said. The minister also said that the government is also planning to use helicopters for serving the needy in emergency cases. 'This service will also begin from this city. As helipads are not available in all the hospitals, we are discussing the practicability of providing helipads to them at the government's expense, after holding discussions with private firms,' he explained.

He also stated that Karnataka is also planning to begin hlicopter ambulances in the state, beginning from Bangalore.