No mortality | 15L emergency calls received since 2010Over 8,000 births in108 ambulances in 10 years

Shimla, July 23

Over 8,000 deliveries have taken place in 108 ambulances being operated by GVK EMRI in the state for the past 10 years.

“Our emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have helped deliver many babies in the ambulances, including twins and even triplets, while rushing expectant mothers to a medical facility. Thankfully, not even one mortality has been reported, neither of the mother nor the child,” said Abhishek Bhangalia, a GVK official. “Besides, our EMTs assisted in 4,221 childbirths at home in interior areas where it was not possible to move the woman to the nearby medical facility in time,” he said. Overall, the company received over three lakh pregnancy-related calls over the last decade, he added.

The company has achieved the milestone of receiving 15 lakh calls since 2010 when it started operating in the state. The company, operating on the Public Private Partnership mode with the state government, with a fleet of 204 four-wheeler ambulances and six bike ambulances in different parts of the state has achieved the milestone within 10 years and seven months. “Of the total 15,00,031 emergency calls received till date at our Emergency Response Centre, 14,57,516 calls were medical-related emergencies, 33,943 police related and 8,572 fire-related emergencies,” said Abhishek. “The service has been a boon to women in the far-flung areas of the state with more than 301,342 pregnancy-related calls reported at our ERC,” he said.

The official said despite the difficult terrain and scattered and thinly populated areas, the scheme had been a success in HP. “With an average response time of 14 minutes in urban areas and 37 minutes and 42 seconds in rural areas, the 108 ambulance service has succeeded in saving several lives in difficult circumstances,” he said. — TNS