NHM ambulance network overhaul: ₹500 crore for e-ambulances and fines for delays
The Centre plans an overhaul of ambulances funded under NHM, with ₹500 crore for about 3,800 electric ambulances under PM E-DRIVE and fines for late arrival and missing equipment.
The government is preparing a major overhaul of the ambulance network funded under the National Health Mission (NHM), which currently pays for 28,472 ambulances under a ₹39,390 crore scheme.
Electric ambulances
₹500 crore has been set aside under the PM E-DRIVE scheme for about 3,800 electric ambulances.
Stricter performance rules for operators
- At least 95% of the fleet available every day
- Minimum daily running of 120 km in the plains and 80 km in hilly areas
- Fully working GPS, linked to the 112 emergency helpline
- Ambulances retired 15 years after registration
Proposed fines
- ₹20 for every minute over the response time
- ₹20 to ₹25 for every kilometre short of the daily minimum
- ₹5,000 a day for a non-working AC or missing medical supplies
- ₹10,000 a shift when a qualified EMT or driver is missing
- ₹25,000 for tampering with GPS or deliberate signal outages
Operators and drivers working on government contracts should expect these conditions in future agreements.
Read the full report at the source: Medical Buyer
This is a summary written by the Ambulance Owner Association. The facts are from the source named above.