In its single largest one-time purchase, the Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) has opened tender for procuring 110 ambulances, including 10 advanced life-saving units. This is good news for Delhi which records 13,000-15,000 cases a month requiring CATS services. And enjoying the parallel benefit will be the Police Control Room (PCR) unit, which often complains of having to double up as “patient transport vehicle”.
CATS director N. Vasanthakumar said: “Delhi is a large city and has a current fleet of 152 ambulances with 21 advanced life-saving units. This needs to be augmented to ensure adequate coverage of the Capital. The 100 new ambulances that will be brought in will have basic life support system, while 10 of them will be equipped with advanced systems.”
The idea behind this latest addition is to provide “home to hospital care”.
“Currently, our ambulances cater mainly to accident and pregnancy cases. This is something we would like to change to ensure we cater to a wider audience,” Dr. Vasanthakumar added.
CATS is now chalking out a roadmap to work in close co-ordination with Delhi Police PCR units. “We are currently operating from 74 accident-prone places identified by the police.”
CATS programme officer P. Raju noted that the first sample ambulance will be delivered within six to nine months, which will have to be cleared by a testing agency.
“Once this is done, subsequent production will be done at a good speed,” said Dr. Vasanthakumar.
CATS was visualised as a planned scheme under 6th Plan in 1984. In 2001, 30 Nissan ambulances were procured from Japan under the World Health Organisation-aided programme. In 2010, 31 Force Motors ambulances were received from the Department of Health and Family Welfare during the Commonwealth Games. These were advance life support and basic life support ambulances. In 2012, 70 ambulances were added to the existing fleet of 31 under National Rural Health Mission scheme of the Union Health Ministry. Fifty more Ecco care ambulances were added to the fleet a year later.
