Ambulance service, 'Access for All' set for Kerala foray

After Mumbai, the integrated advanced life-support agency Ambulance Access for All is all set to foray into the Kerala emergency healthcare scene with its 24x7 high-tech ambulance service with support from the London Ambulance Service (LAS).

Ambulance Access for All is a non-profit organisation engaged in efforts towards saving lives by increasing the awareness about the importance of emergency medical services among the general public, medical fraternity, hospital staff, pharma industry, corporate sector, student community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Talking to Business Standard, Shafi Mather who heads Ambulance Access for All, said the agency had firmed up its plans to launch its project in Kerala by February. It proposes to invest Rs 5 crore in the initial phase.

"We plan to deploy our own ambulances as well as a few empanelled service providers to supplement if we need more vehicles," Mather added.

According to the plan, the agency's Dial 1298 brand, which transformed the way people saw ambulance services, would be implemented in Kerala too.

A call centre at the nodal office, proposed to be set up in Kochi, would cater to anyone who needs immediate medical care on dialing 1298.

The formalities to put in place the telecommunication network is currently on with major telecom providers in Kerala, Mather added.

On the billing front, Ambulance Access for All charges patients according to their capacity, he said. Elaborating, Mather said though the service was conceived as a free emergency service, the agency had to resort to billing later on according to the service provided.

As per this, if the ambulance takes the patient to a government hospital the service comes totally free and he would be billed accordingly if taken to a private hospital of his choice.

Dial 1298 operates in such a way that service entails dispatch of the nearest life support ambulance, which is tracked using global positioning system on a real-time tracking system.

The ambulances come equipped with the latest medical and communication devices that help keep the hospital emergency room posted on the condition of the patient.

Ambulance Access for All was launched in Mumbai in May, 2005. With up to 16 advanced life support ambulances catering to close to 25 patients a day, Mumbai experienced the services the most during the 7/11 bombings and the devastating floods.

Mather, who is the director of the Ambulance Access for All project, was responsible for setting up the service on a pilot basis in Mumbai.

The venture was initiated through an association with the famed London Ambulance Service (LAS). The London Ambulance Service, a British government agency, offers training and other assistance for the project.