GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

 MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED

QUESTION NO. 4193

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH AUGUST, 2017

 PRIVATE AMBULANCE OPERATORS IN THE COUNTRY 4193.

SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

• whether the Government is aware that there is an increase in the number of private ambulance operators in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the services are charged based on the equipment within the ambulances, if so, the details thereof; (c) the steps teken by the Government to ensure that all ambulances whether State run or privately, adhere to the highest standards of safety and availability of life saving equipment and trained para-medical staff; (d) if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether the efforts have been made to train drivers of such ambulances, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

 (a) & (b): Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure availability of ambulances lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Data regarding number of private ambulance operators in the country and charges therefor is not maintained centrally.

 (c) to (e): Under the National Health Mission (NHM), technical and financial support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including support for ambulance services including Dial-108, Dial-102, Advance Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances fitted with requisite equipments, training of ambulance para-medical staff and drivers etc., based on the proposals made by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope. Under NHM, 8,061 Dial-108 ambulances, 8,872 Dial-102/104 ambulances and 6,674 empanelled patient transport vehicles are operational in the country. A Pre-hospital Trauma Technician (PTT) one year course is conducted in the three Central Government Hospitals of Delhi – Safdarjung Hospital, Ram ManoharLohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals. An advisory has also been issued to all the States/UTs to implement the PTT course curriculum in their respective States/UT for capacity building and training of para-medical personnel for ambulances as per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. ……