GNRC has launched a fleet of state-of-the-art ambulances, to complete GNRC’s emergency services portfolio. Free emergency services was provided for first 24 hours by GNRC to all patients including waiver of doctor’s consultation fee, bed charges, charges for essential investigations, medicines and life support. In addition, GNRC’s Accident Card provides medical care to members of the programme in the unfortunate event of an accident befalling them.

Addressing a press conference held at GNRC Dispur to flag off the fleet, Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah, chairman cum managing director, GNRC Hospitals, informed that the fleet of 100 ambulances will aim to provide basic life support instantly after receiving a call for an ambulance and will have onboard a paramedic and a pilot – both trained in basic life support and safe medical evacuation procedures.

Dr. Borah said “A recent report in the world’s most esteemed medical journal Lancet has stated that over 95 per cent of the world’s population has health problems with over a third having more than five ailments. Several ‘State of Health’ reports formulated by GNRC over the last several months have demonstrated indubitably that the state of health and care in Assam and North-East India lags way behind the rest of the country and the world. We can well imagine, therefore, how acute the situation is in this part of the world. To address the pressing need for a solution to the rising number of emergency medical situations in the region, such as stroke, heart attack and road accident, we have been building an emergency services portfolio that overcomes several access barriers – financial, awareness-related and now, transportation.”

Dr. Borah explained that the integration of ambulance fleet to GNRC’s 24-hour free emergency service makes GNRC the only total emergency service provider in India. “The ‘golden hour’ – first 60 minutes after the occurrence of an emergency medical condition – is the window of time in which the difference between life and death or disability for a patient must be established through medical intervention. We, at GNRC, aim to enable the emergency patients to avail this chance through our ambulance services – thus contributing to progress in the direction mandated by our guiding principle – Health for All and Smiles for All”, he explained.

On the occasion, Dr. Borah also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the media personnel present and requested them to contribute to society’s well-being by spreading the message about the free emergency services as much as possible. “The primary cause of alarming number of deaths due to medical conditions like stroke, heart attack or accident is lack of access to affordable, safe transportation to hospital within the ‘golden hour’, with adequate medical attention. Only media can help us take this message to the masses, and thereby serve the cause of society-building and nation-building”, he said.