108 ambulance service big hit in HP: Bindal

The 108 ambulance service launched across Himachal Pradesh a year ago has become a popular household name across the hill state, claims state’s health department.

“In the last one year 90,411patients have availed of the free service.There are currently 108 ambulances all over the state ,” Rajeev Bindal, state’s health minister said on Tuesday .

“Around 18,188 patients were pregnant women. Of these, 527 women delivered their baby in the ambulance with the help of para medics and equipment in the vehicle,” said Bindal .

“There were 5,654 road accidents, and the patients were shifted to the nearest hospital by these ambulances,” he said .

Also, there were 442 snake bite cases from the lower hills of the state, of which 82 were treated in the vehicle .

The 108 ambulance service was launched a year ago . In the first launch 50 vehicles were on the road .This was followed by 50 and 8 vehicles , taking the total number of ambulances to 108 and covering all twelve districts of the state .

People can dial toll free from any corner of the state and the patient is shifted quickly to the nearest hospital free of cost.