Maharashtra: Awareness goes up, so does the demand for state-run 108 ambulance service

The state government’s medical emergency 108 ambulance service has received nearly 53% increase in the number of cases last year in comparison to the number of cases in 2017 across Maharashtra.

The medical emergency ambulance has attended a maximum number of cases in 2018 - 14,80,249 related to the vehicle accident, assault, burns, cardiac, mass casualty and suicide cases.

According to the 108 ambulance authority, awareness of the emergency service among the public has increased due to which they were able to respond to a huge number of cases.

Since four years of its launch, while over 37,98,118 cases were responded, last year they responded to over 14.8 lakh cases. In 2017, they had responded to over 7.9 lakh cases. Similarly, in 2016, they had responded to over 6.84 lakh cases, in 2015, they had responded to over four lakh cases and in 2014, they had responded to over 1.92 lakh cases.

Speaking about the number of cases treated in Pune, Dr Dnyaneshwar Shelke, the chief operating officer of ‘MEMS- Dial 108’, said, “The awareness of emergency services has increased significantly. We have been actively taking help of ASHA workers across the state for safe pregnancy-related emergency and care. There has been a significant rise in the number of responses for pregnancy-related emergencies as well as general medical ailments.”

According to data from the Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), out of the 14.8 lakh cases, a majority of cases were related to general medical ailments (9.61 lakh cases), pregnancy (2.41 lakh cases).

“While the number of emergency calls in urban areas like Mumbai has increased by 10%, the emergency calls from rural areas of Maharashtra has increased by 60% to 70%,” he said. 

The 108 ambulance service is aimed at providing medical support during golden hour and was launched in 2014. Mumbai has the highest number of 108 ambulances (93 ambulances) followed by Pune (83 ambulances) and Nashik (46 ambulances).

108: NOT JUST A NO.

• Medical emergency ambulance has attended a maximum number of cases in 2018 - 14,80,249 related to the vehicle accident, assault, burns, cardiac, mass casualty and suicide cases. 
   
• MEMS said that out of 14.8 lakh cases, a majority of cases were related to general medical ailments (9.61 lakh cases), pregnancy (2.41 lakh cases)