Submitted by Shagun Bhadana

IRSC, Law Intern

National Ambulance Code

Status:

National Ambulance Code Approved by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

Code Provides for Minimum Standards and Guidelines for Ambulances. In a major step towards
improving the quality and safety of ambulances on Indian roads, National Ambulance Code AIS:
125 (Automotive Industry Standard) recommended by Central Motor Vehicles Rules-Technical
Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC) has been approved by the Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways. This ‘Code’ puts in place minimum standards and guidelines regarding the
constructional and functional requirements of road ambulances in India. Drafted in line with the
global best practices in the field of ambulance design, the code has been suitably adapted to factor
in the special requirements of the Indian sub-continent, including traffic conditions, need for
economy and industry maturity.

Efficiency and problems in India with regard to Ambulance:

After the surfacing of incidents all over the media like “an Odisha man forced to carry daughter’s
body for 6kms after ambulance dropped them midway” and “AMU professors dies in campus after
6 hour long wait for ambulance”, and famous dialogues in the mainstream Bollywood like “A
pizza is guaranteed to be delivered in 30 minutes but not an ambulance” there was a huge hue-and-
cry which lead to the limelight to shower upon the loophole of an administration regarding medical
vehicles in India. Hence, airing the talks of a new bill for the same for The National Ambulance
Code.

Existing ambulances in India are more like regular transporting vehicles with close to nil facilities
suitable to lay a patient. The code notified recently has specified that the road ambulances will
have to be designed and specially equipped for transporting patients and must be capable of
providing out of the hospital care during the transit.
 Submitted by Shagun Bhadana
IRSC, Law Intern

As per the bill there shall be four categories classified for road ambulances; (A, B, C & D) that is
First Responder, Patient Transport, Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support, respectively.

Scenario in India and other countries:

The category of First Responder, which also includes two wheeled ambulances, has been specially
introduced for the first time in India to cater to the need for providing prompt medical care in
congested by-lanes and high traffic areas. Special care has been given to Care Ergonomics, Patient
Safety, Oxygen System Design, Infection Control, Crash Rescue, etc. in the Code. Once
implemented, this Code will ensure uniformity and standardization in ambulance design and a
minimum level of patient care as per the ambulance designation when appropriately staffed and
equipped. So far no guidelines were available for hospitals and other procuring agencies for
floating tenders and for industry outlining required specifications.

Barring the first respondent vehicles, the other three category of ambulances- Patient transport
basic life support and advanced life support- will have stretchers, traction device, stationary
oxygen, cardiac monitor, diagnostic equipment such as BP monitor, and equipment for managing
life threatening problems.

The Government would now consider bringing the Ambulance Code within the mandatory frame
work of Central Motor Vehicles Rules. Time frame for mandatory adoption of the Ambulance
Code will be decided by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in consultation with the
manufacturers and other stakeholders. Meanwhile, the standard may be adopted by Government
and other procurement agencies for procurement of ambulances on a voluntary basis.

How would the National Ambulance code will help the society?

According to the latest report by WHO on India only 11% to 49% of seriously injured patients are
taken in ambulances to the hospitals, resulting in the shocking number of lives lost because of the
same. In China is over 75%.

The Ministry is implementing a National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme under which
ambulance and crane are provided to the State Governments to take the accidents victims to the
 Submitted by Shagun Bhadana
IRSC, Law Intern

nearest hospital and to evacuate the damaged vehicles from the road accidents site on the
National Highways. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at every
toll plaza on the completed corridor of National Highways (this information was given by the
then Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in written
reply to a question in Lok Sabha in the session dated December 2, 2016. There has been no
update since.)

Suggestions:

 Mandating the hospitals to comply with the said law

 A penal liability in case of failure.
 Strict guidelines for the standards of the types of ambulances.
 Traffic management.
 Cost efficiency.