Question : Ambulance under NRHM

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether a large number of people die due to unavailability of ambulance service during an emergency especially in rural areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard, State-/UT-wise;

(c) the number of general as well as critical care ambulances provided under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) during each of the last three years and current year, State/UT-wise; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme for financing Ambulance Service under NRHM and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide healthcare including general as well as critical care ambulance services lies with the respective State Governments. The data regarding number of people who died due to unavailability of ambulance service during an emergency especially in rural areas is not maintained centrally.

However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), technical and financial support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including support for ambulance services including Dial-108, Dial-102 - Advance Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, based on the proposals made by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope.

(c) & (d): As stated in reply to para (a) & (b) above, under NHM technical and financial support is provided to States/UTs, inter alia for ambulance services based on the proposals made by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope.

State/UT-wise number of Dial-108/Dial-102 ambulances and empanelled vehicles supported under NHM/NRHM (a sub-mission under NHM) during each of the last three years and current year are at Annexure.