Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 12: The Karnataka health and family welfare department is set to take complete control of the 108 ambulance services by February 2026, aiming to improve efficiency and ensure timely emergency medical care across the state.

Currently, the ambulances are government-owned and funded, including fuel and driver salaries, but were operated through private agencies. Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said this arrangement had led to multiple operational challenges. “With the health department taking over the operations, these challenges can be addressed more effectively,” he said.

“To streamline operations, a central command centre will be set up in Bengaluru, along with separate centres in each district. The department will take over the entire 108 ambulance operations within three months,” Rao added.

The department plans to conduct tests for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who provide first aid and critical care during patient transit. “This is to test their capability; it is important that these technicians are able to provide the necessary services under pressure,” Rao said.

To enhance the fleet, the department will procure 175 new ambulances from the Road Safety Authority. “The ambulances procured in 2018 had the highest number of vehicle breakdowns, so we will be bringing in new vehicles to provide timely treatment,” said Dr Prabhudev Gowda, deputy director, Emergency Management and Research Institute.

The new ambulances will feature Mobile Data Terminals — tablet devices that help EMTs and drivers locate patients and nearby hospitals. The devices will integrate with e-Sanjeevini, the national telemedicine service, enabling doctors to guide EMTs and prepare hospitals ahead of patient arrivals.

A central command control centre, staffed by over 250 personnel, will use 112 NGERSS software developed by C-DAC. The software allows dispatchers to track ambulances, patients, and hospitals in real time. “To bring in more efficiency, the ambulance nearest to the patient will be allocated and immediately taken to the closest hospital. We have geo-tagged all government hospitals and are awaiting data from private hospitals as well,” said Dr Gowda.

A pilot study conducted in Chamarajanagar district demonstrated that ambulances could be dispatched without glitches or delays. To ensure transparency and smooth operations, the department will also recruit district-level agencies to manage ambulance drivers.

This initiative makes Karnataka one of the first states in the country to fully manage emergency ambulance services through its health department, aiming for faster response times and more reliable patient care.