Karnataka state now has a government-run, state-of-the-art and free ambulance service that can be contacted by simply dialing 108 on any phone. The service was launched on 31st October, the state’s 53rd Foundation Day, by Chief Minister B.S. Yedyurappa and flagged off by former President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The first fleet of the round-the-clock service, deployed at launch Saturday, comprises 66 ambulances equipped with defibrillators, ventilators and extrication tools. For easy navigation these vehicles would also be fitted with Geographical Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Indication System. Aided by these sophisticated navigation tools, the ambulance driver would be able to reach the exact spot, in about 14 to 20 minutes in urban areas and 22 to 30 minutes in rural areas.

The service was developed in partnership with Emergency Management & Research Institute (EMRI), the Satyam Computers-owned organization from Hyderabad.

The service is part of a government initiative to provide free emergency response service. The caller has only to dial 108 without any prefix or suffix from any phone - landline or mobile. He/she would be asked for essential information such as type of medical emergency, persons affected, location, etc. The response center personnel would then immediately dispatch an ambulance to the required spot. The service would initially address the people’s ambulance needs from a temporary response center located in Basaveshwaranagar.

The service would be rolled out in phases. The second phase would add another such 150 ambulances to serve 18 districts of Karnataka. This phase is slated for completion before March 2009. The government has planned to cover the entire state with a fleet of 517 ambulances by 2010. Bangalore city alone would be served by 25 ambulances. According to estimates there would be roughly one ambulance per 1lakh people.

Former President Dr Kalam said the initiative was praiseworthy and the emergency service would help save lives as it did in some other states. So far 45,000 lives have been saved with such initiatives. Karnataka is the 7th Indian state to have an emergency 108 service. 95% of the cost of running the service would be borne by the government of Karnataka and EMRI would bear the balance 5%.