‘1298-Dial For Ambulance’ launched in Mumbai

EHM News Bureau - Mumbai

Ambulance Access For All, a not-for-profit Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Organisation, recently launched ‘1298 Dial For Ambulance’ in the city of Mumbai.

It was launched by chief minister Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh at the Grant Medical College. “The need-gap for ambulance services can be addressed with the launch of 1298 - Dial For Ambulance. Maharashtra being a progressive state in every aspect, unfortunately also leads to accidental deaths. With the introduction of ‘1298 - Dial for Ambulance service’, people in need will be benefited immensely,” the chief minister, promising to propose EMS legislation for Mahararashtra in the cabinet.

Speaking on the occasion, Shaffi Mather, director, Ambulance Access for All, said, “The service is aimed at making emergency medical service available to any resident / visitor in Mumbai in the minimum possible time and at very affordable charges based on the destination of the patient.

This service will enable saving human lives, which may otherwise have been lost only for want of timely medical attention.”

This service can be availed by anyone in the city of Mumbai by calling 1298 from any telephone, landline or mobile in Mumbai. At present, the area of service covers from Colaba to Dahisar, Toll-gate on the Western Expressway and Colaba to Vashi bridge/Thane Toll-gate.
The charge for this service starts from Rs 500. “The charges will depend and vary according to the destination of the patient /trauma victim. This service is open to every resident/visitor in Mumbai as no membership is required to use this service. In cases of extreme economic poverty, the service will reduce and even waive the charge for service, if the destination of the patient victim is the non-payment ward of a government/BMC Hospital,” added Mather.

‘1298 Dial For Ambulance’ currently consists of 10 state-of-the-art ambulances, modeled on the London Ambulance Service. For the service, Mumbai city will be divided into 10 zones with one ambulance placed strategically in each zone to reach any location quickly. “On receiving a call at the control room, the point of origin of the call will be immediately located using Global Positioning System (GPS). The nearest ambulance will then be dispatched on Realtime Tracking System (RTS). This will enable the ambulance team to reach the patient in the minimum possible time,” added Mather.

In addition, a detailed GPS-enabled digital mapping of the city in the control room enables them to direct the driver to take the shortest route to the patient location/ hospital.

‘1298 Dial for Ambulance’ is working with the telecom companies to equip the hospital ERs (emergency room) with incoming telephone hotline to update them of the condition of the incoming patients/trauma victims on board the 1298 ambulances.

The ambulances are fully equipped with defibrillator, automatic mode plus manual mode, ECG, cardiac monitor, ventilator, suction machine, resuscitation kit, pulse oxymeter, oxygen, collapsible trolley, stair chair, nebuliser and emergency medicines.

The ambulances are fully air-conditioned, partially sound proofed with joints sealed with silicon (for better infection control). The monochrome construction of the vehicle provides greater patient comfort and makes it an ideal choice for patient transport. Each ambulance has a crew consisting of doctors/paramedics/ medical consultants.

This Rs 2.5 crore project is sponsored by State Bank of India, Hindustan Petrolem, Playwin Foundation of Essel Group and a leading Indian Corporate Group who wish to remain anonymous at this point in time.

The service is supported by the London Ambulance Service, the British Council, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Association of Hospitals (AoH), Mumbai, Association of Medical Consultants, Mumbai, Society of Emergency Medicine in India (SEMI), Times Foundation and the six telecom operators.

Ambulance for All has been running advanced life support (ALS) ambulance service for the last 12 months as a pilot project. “At present, around 25 trauma victims are served daily and over 2000 trauma victims have been served till date during the pilot set-up stage. It aims to build a network of ALS Ambulances in Mumbai providing Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced/ Specialised Life Support (ALS) and Patient Transport Service (PTS),” Mather added.