Zomato is taking a major step forward in its bold 10-minute ambulance initiative, currently operational in Gurugram through its quick-commerce platform Blinkit. The company is now developing its own paramedic training programme to boost the quality and reliability of emergency response.
“This is one of the most challenging and resource-heavy efforts we’ve ever taken on, but we’re fully committed,” Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal posted on X on July 24.
He shared that the service, which began on January 2, 2025, with just five ambulances covering a small part of Gurugram, has now grown to 12 ambulances spread across six depots. The fleet now serves nearly half the city, having handled 594 emergency calls half of them critical. Goyal noted that these ambulances reach patients within 10 minutes in 83% of the cases.
Highlighting the next step, Goyal said, “Our team is developing an in-house paramedic training programme to elevate emergency care standards in India.” He added, “We’re learning every day. We’re committed. And we won’t stop until everyone can rely on life-saving help being just 10 minutes away.”
Each Blinkit ambulance is equipped with vital emergency tools like oxygen cylinders, defibrillators (AEDs), suction machines, stretchers, monitors, and essential medicines. The vehicles are staffed by a paramedic, an assistant, and a trained driver. The service charges a flat fee of ₹2,000 per call.
Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa had emphasized at launch that profitability was not the goal. “We’re focused on keeping this service affordable and solving a deeply important problem for the long run,” he said, adding that the company aims to expand the service to all major Indian cities within the next two years.
However, soon after launch, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had reminded Blinkit to ensure full compliance with healthcare regulations while delivering emergency services.
In a follow-up interview with CNBC-TV18’s Shereen Bhan on January 20, Dhindsa hinted at the company’s broader healthcare ambitions. He acknowledged that Blinkit hadn’t yet entered the online pharmacy space due to legal hurdles but expressed interest in addressing challenges related to medicine access. “We believe it’s worth exploring if we can make timely access to medication more reliable and compliant,” he said.
