To strengthen emergency medical services and improve road accident response, new ambulance designs and enhanced safety standards are being proposed, including the introduction of neonatal ambulances dedicated to transporting critically ill newborns requiring specialised medical care. The proposal also includes multi-patient ambulances capable of carrying more than one patient simultaneously, along with rescue equipment to assist in saving accident victims trapped inside vehicles.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, based on recommendations from the Union Health Ministry, has prepared a draft revision of the national ambulance standards under the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 125. Following public consultation, the revised code will specify updated requirements for ambulance design, construction and essential medical equipment.
Under the proposed standards, ambulances will be required to carry trained medical personnel, have high-capacity battery systems to power life-saving medical equipment, and incorporate enhanced safety features to provide better protection for patients during transportation.
According to studies, nearly half of all road accident fatalities could be avoided if injured patients receive timely medical care within the “golden hour” after an accident. Official data indicates that road accidents have claimed an average of 1.7 lakh lives annually in India over the last ten years.
Ambulances to Be Digitally Connected with Hospitals
The draft guidelines also propose stronger digital integration of ambulance services, including:
- Mandatory GPS tracking and GIS-based mapping for all ambulances.
- Integration with the national emergency helpline 112.
- Real-time connectivity with hospitals, referral centres, ambulance stations, accident-prone locations, and healthcare facilities displaying live bed availability, enabling faster emergency response and more efficient patient management.
