Delhi government launches bike ambulance services for crowded areas

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal launched bike-ambulance services, equipped with GPS device, for east Delhi on a pilot basis, saying it will provide quick pre-hospital response in congested areas.

The chief minister said it was difficult for four-wheeler ambulances to enter narrow lanes. “If there’s a medical emergency in narrow bylanes, bike ambulance can go there and immediately provide service to the patients,” he said.

The number of bike ambulances will be increased in the coming days.

According to health officials, the bikes, also referred to as first responder vehicles, include a portable oxygen cylinder, a first-aid kit and dressing materials, air-splints, foldable transfer sheets, ambu bags, glucometer, pulse oxymeter, a portable manual suction machine and a communication device.

Officials said that against the sanctioned funds of Rs 40 lakhs, the project was completed in Rs 23 lakhs. Though the idea of deploying them to transport critically-ill patients from narrow lanes has been toyed with several times by the state government, including during the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and most recently in November last year, this is the first time it is being implemented.

In the private sector, at least one major hospital chain — Max Healthcare — claims to have deployed 15 bike ambulances.

They are driven by paramedics with personalised kits, containing ambubag, automatic defibrillator and other devices necessary for emergency care.