'Over 1.5 cr benefited from free ambulance services in UP'

GVK-EMRI group that provides free ambulance services under government-run helplines in 17 states and union territories, today said, it has responded to 4.6 crore emergency cases, saving over 17.5 lakh lives and assisting in 4.7 lakh emergency child birth cases.
"We currently have a fleet of 11,000 ambulances and we respond to 25,000 emergency cases everyday. We have responded to 4.6 crore emergency cases and saved 17.5 lakh lives. In addition, we have assisted in 4.7 lakh emergency child birth cases in the country," Chief Operating Officer (COO), GVK-EMRI, UP, Sanjay Khosla told reporters here.
He informed that GVK-EMRI ambulances currently reach 75 crore people in 17 states and union territories which makes it the world's largest emergency medical service.

Khosla added that in UP, one crore and around 57 lakh people have benefited from 102 and 108 ambulance services respectively since their inception in 2013.
"In UP, on an average, we receive 65,000 calls for 102 and 43,000 for 108 ambulance services. The calls are answered by well-trained emergency response officers round-the-clock. The team assists in nearly 6,500 emergency cases in 108 and nearly 25,000 trips in 102 on any given working day," he said.
The free-of-cost, round-the-clock emergency ambulance service, Samajwadi Swasthya Sewa, was launched in the state by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
On receiving a call on toll-free number 108, an ambulance reaches the patient within 20 minutes and the patient is provided medical aid before being shifted to a hospital.

Emergency medical relief is available for those who suffer cardiac arrests, pregnant women, those with burns, those who undergo trauma following road accidents or physical assault and those with infectious diseases, requiring immediate hospitalisation.