Chhattisgarh has 328 ambulances: High court review underway

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh High Court, in a Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation, has reviewed the affidavit submitted by the Secretary of the Department of Health & Family Welfare regarding the state's ambulance services. The court has expressed the need for continued monitoring. The court, presided over by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, was hearing a matter concerning the adequacy and functionality of ambulance services in Chhattisgarh. During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Y.S. Thakur represented the State.
The affidavit submitted by the Health Secretary detailed the current state of ambulance services, revealing that Chhattisgarh operates two types of ambulances: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS).
The state has a total of 328 ambulances. There are 298 BLS ambulances, equipped with essential medical equipment such as suction pumps, oxygen cylinders, and manual breathing units. The affidavit also included a list of 36 types of medicines and injections and 54 types of consumables carried in these ambulances.
Similarly, there are 30 ALS ambulances, which include all the equipment found in BLS ambulances, plus additional advanced equipment like defibrillators, cardiac monitors, and transport ventilators.
Both BLS and ALS ambulances provide free transportation and treatment to emergency patients, transporting them to the nearest government health institution, the affidavit said.
The court, upon reviewing the affidavit, acknowledged the provided details regarding the number of ambulances and their equipment. However, it deemed further monitoring necessary. Consequently, the case has been scheduled for further hearing on April 28, 2025.