The Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) has introduced the “Bike Ambulance” facility in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra in an effort to bring primary healthcare to the last mile, particularly at the doorstep in remote areas.
The initiative was officially launched by Shubham Gupta, the ITDP project officer and assistant collector of Gadchiroli. The key goals of the project, according to Gupta, are to develop the Maoist-affected Gadchiroli and provide every person with access to primary healthcare.
Shubham Gupta said, “ The main concept behind the introduction of bike ambulance is to provide primary health care to those patients who are being brought to the sub-centers and Primary Health Care (PHC) for treatment from their remote hamlets where road constructively is still not done.”
Gupta further added “The bike ambulances will have medical kits with basic medicines to treat common diseases. Apart from this, a first-aid box and oxygen cylinder will also be there. A patient can be ferried on a bed attached like a sidecar of the bike ambulance.”