GUWAHATI: Guwahati's scorching summer heat has revealed a major issue with the city's 108 ambulances. Many of these emergency vehicles, vital for transporting patients, are running without functioning air conditioners or fans. This has left patients and their families to endure extreme discomfort during medical emergencies, prompting numerous complaints and raising concerns about the overall state of the emergency response system.
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EMRI GHS 108 ‘Mrityunjoy’ Services, which completed 15 years of operation in Assam in 2023, has been a lifeline for many. However, numerous complaints have surfaced regarding the non-functioning air conditioners (ACs) and fans in these ambulances, leaving patients and their families to endure the scorching heat.
The EMRI Green Health Services (formerly GVK EMRI) began in April 2005, aiming to provide integrated emergency response services through a public-private partnership. With the vision of saving 1 million lives annually, this service was extended to Assam on July 8, 2008, through an agreement between the Government of Assam and GVK EMRI.
Talking to GPlus, a 108 driver said, "Most of our ambulances have non-functioning ACs and fans," he said. "It's incredibly difficult for us, but it's even worse for the patients and their families who are already stressed and suffering. In this scorching heat, it's unbearable inside the ambulance. We often see people bringing hand fans just to cope with the heat during the ride. It's not just uncomfortable, it's unsafe, especially for those who are already in a critical condition."
Another driver shared similar concerns, saying, "We can't turn on the AC because they don't provide us with the gas for it. When these vehicles were first introduced, the ACs worked, but now most of them, including the fans, have stopped functioning. Many ambulances are also out of service."
A family member of a patient also voiced frustration. "We have to carry hand fans because the ambulance service doesn't have working ACs or fans," they told GPlus.
An official from EMRI Green Health Services talking to GPlus said, "If there are such issues, they can simply come to the office and request the necessary repairs. We fix these problems within 24 hours."