State govt to launch bike ambulances in tribal areas

Ongole: The Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken a decision to introduce bike ambulances in tribal areas in the state. In the recent meeting with the officials, the health minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas announced the decision of the government to the medical and health officers.

Though bike ambulances are  not new in the world, the Karnataka government launched the first motorbike ambulance service in the country. The service is aimed at providing medical help to the victims before the ambulance reach the spot. Inspired by the service, an NGO in Chhattisgarh remodelled the ambulance and added a bed to the bike. 

The same service is also introduced in Gujarat with GPS tracking in the vehicle so that the medical team in the ambulance can know where to pick up the patient. Learning about the mortality rate in the tribal areas in the state, the government wanted to introduce the bike ambulance service for them. Though the type of vehicle is not finalised, the officials are expecting it could be the model of Gujarat, a bike with the bed to carry the victim.

District medical and health officer of Prakasam district, J Yasmin said, “In most of the tribal areas, 108 ambulances are unable to reach the habitations like interiors of the forest. Though they have a road connecting the majority of habitations, only bikes and jeeps are able to enter the area. Health minister Kamineni Srinivas announced in the meeting that the government is going to introduce the bike ambulance service in the tribal areas, where the driver cum paramedic brings the person to the nearest place, where the 108 ambulance can reach and provide emergency care.”

Learning about the road connectivity issues in the tribal area and its affect on the mortality rate, the transport, roads and buildings minister K Atchennaidu, who also participated in the meeting, announced that he will sanction funds to construct roads to connect all tribal habitations to the mandal head quarters and all mandal head quarters to the district head quarters, while interacting with The Hans India.

To increase the medical and health services in the tribal areas, the government is also ready to pay Rs. 200000 per month as remuneration to the gynecologists, anesthetics and pediatricians willing to work in the tribal area. It is also ready to offer Rs. 100000 per month as salary to the doctors coming forward to work in the PHCs in the tribal area.