Gandhinagar, September 19 (Daily Kiran) : Gujarat is taking significant steps to enhance emergency healthcare services in tribal areas by introducing 89 new ambulances. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government is focused on improving access to health services in the most remote tribal regions.
Currently, the average response time for the 108 emergency ambulance service across Gujarat is approximately 13 minutes and 9 seconds. Urban areas see an average response time of about 9 minutes and 55 seconds, while rural areas experience a longer wait of approximately 16 minutes and 28 seconds. In tribal regions, however, challenging geographical conditions have resulted in an average emergency response time of around 18 minutes and 32 seconds.
With the addition of the new ambulance fleet, the state aims to reduce this average response time in tribal areas to approximately 10 minutes, significantly improving emergency response capabilities. This initiative addresses some of the key challenges in delivering emergency healthcare, including difficult terrain, remote settlements, and access issues related to the monsoon.
The expansion of the emergency ambulance network is designed to ensure that geographical barriers do not prevent tribal communities from receiving timely and life-saving medical care. The number of ambulances in designated tribal districts will increase from the current 553 to 642, thereby strengthening the emergency transport network in these regions.
Reducing response times will also help bridge the gap between tribal and non-tribal areas, ensuring that patients in geographically challenging locations receive emergency assistance as quickly as possible. The new ambulance service has been tailored to meet the diverse emergency care needs of tribal areas, including 22 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, 55 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, and 12 four-wheel-drive (4WD) ambulances.
The inclusion of 12 specialized 4WD ambulances is crucial for reaching remote tribal areas, especially during heavy rains, floods, or when poor road conditions hinder access for standard ambulances.
This expansion is expected to strengthen the state’s pre-hospital emergency care network, increasing the likelihood of timely medical assistance during the critical “golden hour” following severe medical emergencies. Rapid access to emergency services is vital for pregnant women, newborns, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and seriously ill patients living in hard-to-reach areas.
The initiative aims to enhance both critical phases of emergency transport: quickly reaching the patient and swiftly transporting them to the hospital. Consequently, this proposed expansion is anticipated to improve emergency response times while also enhancing connectivity between remote tribal communities and healthcare centers.
The additional fleet is designed to provide better emergency coverage in areas where geographical conditions can significantly impact response and transportation times. The deployment of these ambulances will enable the emergency network to more effectively address various medical emergencies and the challenges posed by local conditions. The procurement process for these vehicles is currently underway, managed by the Additional Director of Medical Services in Gandhinagar.
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