Global Comparison of Ambulance Services in Selected Countries and Feasibility to Have Standardized Ambulance Services for India

Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is provided by a variety of individuals, using a variety of methods. The levels of service available will fall into one of three categories: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Intermediate Life Support (ILS).

The objective of the study was to compare the ambulance services in various parts of the world and to study the feasibility of having standardized ambulance services for India.

The present study focuses on Ambulance services in select countries of the world based on questionnaire circulated and responses obtained. This study is based on the responses obtained from EMS stakeholders working in EMS field in India and various parts of the World. Their responses were corroborated for authenticity through additional sources e.g. website, official publications of their Institutions and in some cases through personal interaction with the authorities.

There is no standardization of ambulance design across various procurements in the country and the industry is forced to re-integrate their vehicles every now and then. Most of the ambulance specifications are written by medical specialists who are unable to translate the user requirements in automobile terminology there by resulting in a huge gap between the user expectations and industry deliverability. Developed and developing countries have both Basic Life Support (BLS) & Advanced Life Support (ALS) type of Ambulances.

The real concept of an ambulance is missing in India. EMS is responsible for delivery of Emergency care in pre-hospital or out of hospital environment and to develop relatively good EMS model. India should have both BLS as well as ALS type of ambulance services which should include Ambulance Vehicles, Ambulance drivers and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's). There is also need to issue necessary instructions to the buyer of the incompletely built vehicle about the constructional and functional aspects of the ambulance.