108 ambulance service saves a life every four minutes in Himachal
The 108 National Ambulance Service (NAS) has become a lifeline for the residents of Himachal Pradesh, saving a life every four minutes. Around 40 per cent of the cases handled by the service are critical referral emergencies requiring advanced medical care.
In the last three years, the service has attended to over 4,01,750 medical emergencies, including 41,000 respiratory cases, 30,000 cardiac emergencies, 15,500 trauma cases, and 5,000 stroke-related incidents. Additionally, over 25,250 police emergencies and 1,790 fire-related cases have been addressed.
The service has also played a pivotal role in maternal healthcare, assisting in over 73,770 pregnancy-related emergencies and 2,873 deliveries. It has provided drop-back services to 92,970 beneficiaries, contributing significantly to maternal and child health.
Ashok Dasson, Project Manager of Medswan Foundation, which operates the service under the National Health Mission (NHM), emphasized its importance in the rugged hill state. "The trained staff has not only saved lives but ensured dignity and care for expectant mothers," he stated.
The service is run with 248 ambulances under NAS-108 and 148 under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram-102. Despite challenges like worn-out ambulances, the service has continued to deliver timely medical assistance, saving countless lives.
On average, the service handles over 375 emergencies daily, answers 2,000 calls, and assists in three childbirths, making it a vital healthcare support system for the state's residents.