Jharkhand Approves 720 New Ambulances, Focus on Rural Patient Transport

The Jharkhand government has approved the purchase of 720 ambulances as part of efforts to improve emergency medical services and strengthen patient transport facilities across the state.

The decision was taken at a senior-level meeting of the Health Department led by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajoy Kumar Singh. Officials have been instructed to complete the tendering process within the next month.

Under the new procurement plan, the state will proceed with the purchase of 30 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances that had already received approval. A further 20 ALS ambulances, along with 270 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and 400 Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs), will also be added to the fleet.

The move is aimed at addressing the shortage of operational ambulances in the state. According to the Health Department, a number of vehicles acquired in the past are currently out of service, making it difficult for patients to reach hospitals, particularly those living in rural areas.

The new PTVs will be stationed at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs). They are expected to help patients reach referral hospitals without unnecessary delays when specialised treatment is required.

The vehicles will be managed through an outsourced system under the supervision of the medical officers in charge of the respective health facilities. The National Health Mission (NHM) will allocate ₹50,000 per vehicle every month to support the operation of the PTVs.

ALS ambulances will be deployed at Sadar hospitals and medical college hospitals, with their respective administrations overseeing operations. The BLS fleet will be managed by an agency selected for the purpose.

The expansion is expected to improve ambulance availability, strengthen emergency response mechanisms and make access to timely medical transportation easier for patients across Jharkhand.