108 fleet to get bigger, better, cover hills too

CHENNAI: The state is all set to increase the fleet strength of the 108 ambulance service, by another 150 vehicles, within the next few months.  According to a highly-placed source within the private-public partnership that runs the free emergency response service, several vehicles are believed to be ‘in the process’ of being brought into the 108 fleet. “We will be procuring over 150 new state-of-the-art ambulances for use within the next three to six months,” said the source.Also, a proposal has been floated to induct all the “usable” ambulances run by government hospitals, primary health centres and health organisations, after sufficient modifications.  While this could encompass a huge number of vehicles, only those vehicles that meet the “high performance standards” of the 108 service will be inducted, the source said.Apparently, the other second-tier vehicles will be used for another purpose.  “These vehicles will remain non-aircondition ed and will be used as Patient Transport Vehicles such as  transporting mothers after delivery and other patients post-discharge,” he revealed.In a bid to widen their service range, 108 will also be introducing a special hill terrain ambulance to reach out to people in elevated regions. “So far we have not been able to reach certain areas because of lack of roads.  “Now these vehicles will be smaller and will be fitted with a four-wheel drive (4WD) system so they can reach almost any village on the hills,” he said.Quite a few vehicles will be added to service villages hilly areas of Nilgiris, Vellore, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Salem and Tiruvannamalai.Also for the first time, specialised neo-natal ambulances will be added to their fleet. These will be to specifically to deal with just-born children and pregnant women. Soon, extensive child care kits with immunisation will be available in the ambulances.When combined with the exsisting 434 ambulances in service in the 108 fleet,  this will certainly increase the effectiveness of the service, especially in outlying districts. “We receive about 25,000 calls per day of which only 10-15 per cent are treated as ‘genuine emergencies’ and are attended to. Now we will be able to handle cases which are not dire emergencies as well,” said another official.All vehicles are in the procurement stage and will be fitted and modified in the months to come. The expansion begun after the Governor announced plans to this effect when he addressed the State Legislative Assembly, earlier this year.