Soon, a dedicated app to book 108 ambulance in state

Ranchi: Patients and their kin will soon be able to avail the 108-ambulance service across Jharkhand by booking rides through a dedicated mobile-based application. The state health department on Friday agreed to run the ambulance service based on the mode used by app-based cab aggregators.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the additional chief secretary, health, Ajoy Kumar Singh.

The meeting reviewed measures to strengthen healthcare delivery, including software development for 108 ambulance operations, issuance of requests for proposals (RFP) for pathology and radiology services under public-private partnership, appointment of paramedical staff, and procurement of machines and equipment for hospitals.

"The service would soon function on the lines of Ola and other app-based platforms. A dedicated software is being developed and integrated with ambulances, enabling effective monitoring of operating agencies and call centres through a service level agreement," Singh said.

At present, patients or their kin book an ambulance by calling the toll-free number (108).

"The new ambulances would be equipped with GPS, MDT devices and other modern facilities. The service will remain entirely free of cost, with no charges to patients. The system will allow patients to book ambulances not only for govt hospitals but also for any hospital of their choice. Initially, the arrangement will be implemented for a period of 10 years, and a mobile application similar to Ola will also be developed."

Officials said biometric attendance of ambulance drivers would be mandatory. Agencies would be incentivised for early response and penalised for delays. In the future, private ambulances will also be integrated into the system and paid on a per km basis, while the service will continue to remain free for the public.

The meeting also reviewed the RFP for providing pathology and radiology services under the PPP mode. These services will be made available in district and sub-divisional hospitals, with diagnostic tests offered to the public at CGHS rates.

The agency will be appointed initially for five years, with a provision for extension of three more years based on performance.