ambulance-booking-in-wb-to-go-online-via-app

Waiting for ambulances and instances of unable to afford exorbitant service fare or carrying ailing patients on their shoulders to hospitals in West Bengal are soon going to be a thing of the past. 

 

For, the state government is set to introduce an online platform for hassle-free and speedy ambulance booking with pre-fixed fares.

 

In January 2023, a incident was reported in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal when a man had to carry his mother’s body on his shoulders after an ambulance demanded ₹ 3,000. 

 

And there are several such incidents reported from various places of West Bengal.

 

In a first, the West Bengal government has decided to bring ambulances under one platform. 

 

Under the able guidance of the Transport and Health Department, a software has been made and it will be launched soon. 

 

Rates have been fixed and the ambulances will be added in the Yatri Sathi app, which is a state government app to book taxis and cabs. 

 

The decision comes amid several complaints about exorbitant costs and unavailability of ambulances during times of need.

 

The platform will bring together all 15,000 ambulances in the state under this one platform. allowing users to track the ambulance’s location and choose from various types of ambulances, including those equipped with oxygen and ventilators. 

 

However, trauma care ambulances will not be included in the initial phase.

 

An official said: “It is a pilot project, which will initially start in Kolkata but it is for the whole of West Bengal. We are trying to ensure adequate numbers of ambulances are on board so that anyone who wants to book an ambulance from anywhere in the state can do that at a fixed rate.”

 

While convincing ambulance owners and providers to join the platform could be a challenge, the idea is to help those who are in need of medical emergency services and want to book an ambulance, which will be just a click away. Just like booking a taxi. 

 

The initiative is likely to draw flak from ambulance service providers due to the fixed rates imposed by the government.