J&K gets 44 advanced life support ambulances

Srinagar, March 04: In a significant boost to the healthcare infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has allocated 44 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances to the region and these would be inducted soon.
Sajid Amin, Nodal Officer, State Health Transport Organization (SHTO) Kashmir said the union government has brought 44 ALS ambulances and these would be induced soon.
“We have received 44 ambulances, including 22 for Jammu and 22 for Kashmir division. The procurement, inspection and insurance stands completed. These will be inducted soon,” he said. In 2023, the government bought 34 ALS ambulances.
As per World Health Organization norms, there should be one ALS ambulance for every one lakh people in urban areas and one for every 70,000 people in rural or hilly areas.
“We have trained emergency medical technicians for every ALS ambulance. These ambulances are maintained properly and the mechanical check-up is done,” he said.
Currently, only ALS and BLS ambulances in Jammu and Kashmir are equipped with GPS tracking systems. However, the government plans to install GPS in all ambulances.
The Nodal Officer added that this time, ambulance distribution has been carefully planned, and it aims to ensure proper handling of trauma cases on the highways.
These state-of-the-art ambulances are equipped with modern medical facilities and, once inducted into the healthcare system, will enhance emergency response services across urban and rural areas.
Officials stated that these ALS ambulances are designed to provide critical care during transit, with advanced equipment such as ventilators and multi-parameter monitors.
“Their deployment aims to improve the survival chances of patients requiring urgent medical attention, including trauma cases, cardiac emergencies, and maternal health complications,” they said.
A senior health department official welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that these ambulances would significantly strengthen emergency medical services, especially in remote areas where timely medical intervention can be life-saving.
“With the induction of these ALS ambulances, we are hopeful of bridging the gap in emergency healthcare access across Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The administration is finalizing the deployment strategy to ensure optimal utilization of these ambulances, prioritizing high-need districts. The initiative is aimed to improve healthcare accessibility and emergency response services in the region.
Every year, deaths happen on the highways due to accidents, which people say can be significantly brought down with a robust emergency system.
As per figures shared recently by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in Jammu and Kashmir, there are 489 ambulances operational under the National Health Mission which includes 139 Advanced Life Support (ALS), 64 Basic Life Support (BLS) and 286 others. Additionally, there are 611 ambulances operational other than the NHM.