Chennai: The state govt will introduce 25 feeder ambulances designed to provide first aid to patients in remote tribal areas and transport them to hospitals. The prototype of these ambulances is being prepared at an EMRI workshop in Poonamallee and will be rolled out next week.
Health secretary Supriya Sahu said a govt order was issued on Thursday to deploy these ambulances in 10 districts for obstetric care, child health check-ups and emergency transport.
“The initiative aims to bridge health disparities, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and bring life-saving support to hard-to-reach communities,” she said.
EMRI has been operating bike ambulances for the last four years. “These bike ambulances are designed to provide first aid to patients within the first ten minutes of an accident or emergency,” said EMRI state head M Selvakumar. “Emergency management technicians on bikes give them first aid, including medicines and oxygen, to support life until help arrives. But they don’t have the facility to carry patients,” he said.
In areas where ambulances cannot access, patients are transported by private vehicles, carts and even carried by friends and family. This resulted in delayed response times.
Automobile engineers have worked on a cabin that can be attached to the bikes used by emergency technicians. “Patients can comfortably stretch their legs and sit inside these cabins just like they do in a semi-sleeper bus. We have provided space for placing life-saving equipment,” he said.
These ambulances will serve as first and last-mile connectivity in difficult terrains. “The model must undergo safety checks before being sent to RTOs for fitness tests and approvals. A pilot testing drive will be conducted in different terrains,” he said.
