Kumar Bahukhandi
In Short
Time-Bound Care Assured, All the 108 Ambulance Services to reach within 15 minutes in urban areas, and within 30 Minutes in Rural Regions: Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal
A First for the State: 5 Neonatal ALS Units Rolled Out as ‘Moving ICUs’ for Critical Newborn Care
Raipur: In a landmark step towards strengthening emergency healthcare delivery, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday March 30, 2026 flagged off a fleet of 370 ambulances, comprising 300 Basic Life Support (BLS) and 70 Advanced Life Support (ALS) units, for deployment across all districts of Chhattisgarh. With this, all the services of 108 ambulance have been activated across the state with immediate effect, ensuring timely and quality medical assistance during emergencies.
Marking a significant first for the state, five Neonatal ALS ambulances have also been introduced under this initiative. These specialised units are expected to serve as a milestone in emergency newborn care, reflecting the government’s commitment to safeguarding infant lives and ensuring safe transportation of critically ill newborns to higher medical centres.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sai said that the state’s healthcare system has witnessed consistent strengthening over the past two years, with visible transformation across sectors. He observed that public trust in government hospitals has steadily increased, owing to the availability of timely treatment. The expansion and upgradation of sub-health centres, primary health centres, and community health centres have significantly reduced the need for patients to travel to distant cities for minor treatments.
Emphasising accessibility, Chief Minister Sai reiterated the government’s goal of ensuring ambulance services within 15 minutes in urban areas and 30 minutes in rural regions.
He stated that the expansion of the 108 ambulance network would further reinforce public confidence that the government stands firmly with its citizens in times of crisis, with sensitivity and promptness.
Highlighting the introduction of the five Neonatal ALS ambulances, Sai described the initiative as a sign of the government’s serious commitment to protecting newborn lives and strengthening critical care response systems.
Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, in his address, termed the day historic for the state’s healthcare sector, noting that the initiative would benefit lakhs of people by ensuring swift medical response.
He informed that Chhattisgarh has become the second state in the country to launch neonatal ambulance services. Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, he added that the state is steadily emerging as a leader in healthcare and is poised for accelerated progress in the coming years.
The Health Minister further assured that any complaints regarding delays or deficiencies in ambulance services would be addressed promptly, with a dedicated monitoring system put in place to ensure accountability and efficiency.
To ensure time-bound response, a clear benchmark has been established: ambulance services will be made available within 15 minutes in urban areas and 30 minutes in rural areas, ensuring timely assistance to every patient in need.
The Neonatal ALS ambulances are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including trained neonatal emergency technicians, round-the-clock Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and pilots, along with online guidance from specialist doctors.
These units are fitted with incubators, ventilators, defibrillators, syringe pumps, nebulisers, suction machines, adequate oxygen support, and 41 types of emergency medicines—effectively functioning as “moving neonatal ICUs.”
Additionally, the BLS and ALS ambulances are equipped to provide on-site primary and advanced medical care, with facilities such as BP monitors, pulse oximeters, ECG monitors, and glucometers, along with oxygen support, nebulisation, and other emergency treatment provisions. For safe transportation of critical patients, advanced equipment including portable ventilators, defibrillator monitors, syringe pumps, and laryngoscopes have also been deployed.
This comprehensive initiative is set to ensure accessible, timely, and effective emergency healthcare services across both urban and remote regions of the state, establishing a robust life-saving network for its citizens.
On the occasion, MLA Moti Lal Sahu, MLA Indra Kumar Sahu, CGMSC Chairman Deepak Mhaskey, Health Secretary Amit Kataria, Director Health Services Sanjeev Jha, Managing Director National Health Mission Ranbir Sharma, Commissioner Medical Education Ritesh Agrawal, along with senior officials and staff of the Health Department, were present.
