Amid rising traffic here, the Maharashtra government said it will launch a pilot project of motorbike ambulances in Mumbai from next year with a view to ensure expeditious medical treatment during an accident or any emergency. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was today signed by state health minister Deepak Sawant and British trade and investment minister Lord Francis Maude.
Sawant said the effort is to allow the victims of accident or any emergency access to medical care in the "platinum ten minutes" rather than the "golden hour". "The four-wheel ambulances find it difficult to negotiate through the city's congested roads. Doctors or paramedics riding bikes can cut through heavy traffic because of their manoeuvrability" he added. The minister said the MoU will also help strengthen and expand health care in rural areas.
The bike ambulances would start in the mega-polis at ten places. The two-wheeler will take accident or emergency victims at the nearest hospital in the shortest possible time. Maude said the MoU will help strengthen relations between England and Maharashtra in the healthcare sector. "The state will benefit from the advanced technology from Britain who will guide the state administration to keep digital records of patients. Doctors and nurses will be trained and health care centres in rural areas will be strengthened," he added.
