Bike ambulances lie idle in TN due to dearth of trained operators

Krishnagiri: A total of 25 two-wheeler ambulances that were procured in 2025 at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore to provide emergency medical assistance to people in hilly villages in 10 districts in Tamil Nadu lie idle since there is dearth of trained persons to operate them and provide medical care, according to health department officials. These bike ambulances have modern medical equipment, oxygen cylinders and first aid medicines.Two of the 25 bike ambulances were allotted to Krishagiri district to provide emergency medical assistance to people living in around 50 hilly villages near Anchetty. Now, these two-wheelers lie idle on the Denkanikottai Government Hospital premises. As a result, people in villages like Urigam, Kottaiyur and Manjukondapalli are left without the means for emergency medical care.These villages have seen many deaths due to snakebites and other reasons which could have been prevented had there been the provision for emergency medical care, according to villagers. K Premkumar of Manjukondapalli village said, "The two two-wheeler emergency vehicles provided for the use of the tribal people in the hill villages have not been operated due to the negligence of the authorities. As a result, the people of the hill villages continue to lack access to emergency medical services."A health department official in the district said the bike ambulances were meant to provide prenatal care, safe delivery transport and help in unexpected emergencies. "The aim of the initiative was to improve tribal health services in including Erode, Krishnagiri, Salem, Vellore, Dharmapuri and the Nilgiris. Its primary objective was to provide treatment during the most critical time known as the golden hour. But these bikes remain idle in all districts due to dearth of trained riders who can provide first aid or necessary treatment," the official said.