A year after health minister Dr Deepak Sawant announced the quick response bike aka first responders (bike ambulance), it is yet to take off.
A year after health minister Dr Deepak Sawant announced the quick response bike aka first responders (bike ambulance), it is yet to take off. Health ministry officials said that the bikes had not arrived as there was no response to the tenders floated by them. They also said that the project would be assigned only partially to the company that showed interest.
Dr Sawant had announced in October last year that 10 such bike ambulances were to be inducted by October this year with a view to reducing mortality and morbidity rates in emergencies. The first responders were expected to increase chances of survival by 20 per cent by providing basic first aid and stabilising the situation.
The 10 bike ambulances were to be launched in four big cities on a pilot basis under the corporate social responsibility component.
State Health Society (SHS), and Maharashtra/ National Health Mission had issued tenders on March 18 to select the lowest bidder to operate the first responders. However, till date, there has been no positive response.
Dr Satish Pawar, Directorate of Health Services (DHS), said, “We have floated tenders but no one came ahead so we have extended the dates for these tenders. It will take three to four weeks to sort out the complete process and handover the tender to the eligible company who evinces interest. So in any circumstance, it will take 45 working days to launch bike ambulance services.”
Commenting on the initiative, Dr Pawar said, “A significant number of victims die due to lack of quick response. Two wheeler first responder ambulances can reach patients/emergency callers immediately even during traffic congestion and in slum areas with narrow lanes or roads.” The first responders will decrease average response time from the present 30-35 minutes to 15-20 minutes.
Raging fire Bike ambulances will be available on toll-free number 108 which is used by the EMS ambulance service. Upon receiving a medical emergency call, the Emergency Response Centre (ERC) will communicate with the nearest ambulance and caller while an emergency medical technician will decide on the severity of the patients’ condition.
