108 ambulance service gets 65% fake calls a month

integrated emergency response service or “Jeevan Vahini” in Rajasthan that provides the 108 and 104 ambulance services, gets 65% fake calls every month, an official said on Thursday.

Dhananjaya Kumar, the state head at GVK EMRI that runs emergency response services in Rajasthan, said the service, a joint-venture between the company and state government, has completed a year of operation.

The toll free emergency response services in the state receives more than four lakh calls every month out of which more than 2.80 lakh are fake calls, Kurmar told reporters in Kota.

“We appeal to the people not to make fake calls on the toll free numbers of the emergency services as it deprives people from availing the ambulance services in genuine cases,” he said.

“People should make call on 108 and 104 ambulance services only during emergencies and not unnecessarily.”

He, however, said the emergency response team at the company usually identifies the fake calls but at times, ambulances are sent on fake calls which prevents genuine person from availing the facility.

On the expansion of the ‘108 ambulances’ service, Kumar said 100 more vehicles will be added to the fleet in August, allocation for the district will be done as per the requirement.

“Presently there are 645 emergency 108 ambulances, 586 Janani Express or 104 ambulances meant for ferrying pregnant women to health centers and 192 base ambulances in the state,” he said.

Apart from free ambulance, the 104 service also offers free medical consultation, complaint registration, suggestions, information dissemination and other similar services.

GVK EMRI, regional manager Mukesh Chawra said the company is providing 108 ambulance services in 15 states and two union territories across the country with a total fleet of 10,000 ambulances.