Chandigarh, June 13: The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is delivering on its commitment to provide timely health care across the state. The government ensures that health care is accessible and of high quality. Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh reaffirmed this commitment on Friday. He flagged-off 46 hi-tech ambulances, further enhancing the emergency medical services across the state. This expansion takes Punjab’s emergency ambulance fleet strength to 371, significantly boosting its lifesaving capabilities.

New Hi-Tech Ambulances Dedicated to Samana Road Accident Victims

The newly inducted fleet also includes seven ‘Child Memorial Ambulances’. They are dedicated to Samana (Patiala). This dedication honors the memory of the children. They tragically lost their lives in a road accident on May 7 this year. These ambulances, equipped with cutting-edge advanced medical equipments, will serve as a tribute while strengthening emergency response in the region. Dr. Balbir Singh shared that the authorities have fitted all newly inducted ambulances with state-of-the-art medical equipment.This includes oxygen and ambu-bag, life-saving drugs, and GPS-enabled tracking systems. These features ensure rapid response—15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas. This response time is among the best in the country and well within international standards. “Our goal is to further reduce this to 10 minutes,” he added. This will ensure that critical care reaches patients within the golden hour.

Hi-Tech Ambulances : 108 Ambulance: Lifesaving Service for 30 Lakh Citizens in Punjab

Pertinently, the 108 Ambulance Service is Punjab’s most trusted emergency response network. It has served over 30 lakh citizens since its inception in 2011. The service provides critical care during accidents, cardiac emergencies, maternal health crises, and trauma cases. “The 108 service is the backbone of our emergency healthcare system. With these new ambulances, we are ensuring that no call for help goes unanswered,” said Dr Balbir Singh. The Health Minister emphasised that the first hour after an emergency is crucial. It is known as the ‘golden hour.’ Timely medical intervention during this period can save lives. The 108 ambulances work closely with the Sadak Surakhiya Force (SSF). They have played a pivotal role in reducing fatalities. They provide immediate on-site medical aid, he said. Dr Balbir Singh also commended the dedicated teams of paramedics, drivers, and emergency responders for their relentless service.

“New Ambulances Deployed Across Punjab

Meanwhile, authorities will deploy new ambulances across various districts of Punjab to strengthen emergency services at the grassroots level. These include deployments in Barnala (1), Bathinda (1), Faridkot (1), Fatehgarh Sahib (3), Fazilka (1), Ferozepur (1), Gurdaspur (2), Hoshiarpur (1), Jalandhar (1), Kapurthala (2), Ludhiana (4), Mansa (2), Moga (2), Mohali (2), Muktsar Sahib (1), Malerkotla (2), SBS Nagar (2), Pathankot (2), Patiala (11), Rupnagar (1), Sangrur (2), and Tarn Taran (1). Chairman of Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) Raman Bahl, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Kumar Rahul, Managing Director of PHSC Amit Talwar, Director of Health Services Punjab Dr. Hitinder Kaur, Director of Family Welfare Punjab Dr. Jasminder Kaur, Director of State Insurance Punjab Dr. Jaspreet Kaur, Director of the National Health Mission Punjab Dr. Balwinder Singh, Director of Procurement PHSC Dr. Pawanpreet Kaur, Additional Director Dr. Gurharminder Singh, Director of Environment & Climate Change-cum-State Nodal Officer Mission Tandrust Punjab, and Project Head of 108 Ambulance Service Manish Batra attended the event.