SC seeks Centre's reply on plea to ensure adequate life support facilities in ambulances
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and others on a petition seeking directions to enact and implement a framework to ensure that adequate life support facilities are maintained in ambulances at all times.
The apex court agreed to hear the plea which has also sought directions to establish an independent committee to conduct a review of current actual status of the operation, maintenance and regulation of road ambulances to identify the gap between the ground reality and the existing standard operating procedures.
"Issue notice, returnable in four weeks," a bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said in its October 10 order.
The plea has arrayed the Centre, the ministry of health and family welfare and ministry of road transport and highways as party respondents.
Senior advocate Percival Billimoria and advocate Jasmine Damkewala appeared for petitioners Saiansha Panangipalli and Priya Sarkar.
Panangipalli is the daughter of eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr P Venugopal, who was a former director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Sarkar is Venugopal's wife.
"The petitioners realised the woeful inadequacy of emergency facilities in ambulances when Dr P Venugopal himself succumbed on the way to the hospital emergency room, due to the abysmal lack of emergency life support facilities in the ambulance, being consequently being deprived of oxygen," the plea said.
It said the petitioners do not wish to engage in adversarial litigation but have subsequently found that lack of adequate emergency resources in ambulances across India is a huge concern owing to the absence of enforceable regulation.
The plea said many lives, which could have been saved, were lost unnecessarily because ambulances were unable to supplement emergency services at hospitals, in terms of the lack of necessary life-saving facilities.
It said the 16th common review mission report of the ministry of health and family welfare under the National Health Mission had noted the inadequacies and mismanagement in ambulances of all states.
It said the report highlighted various infirmities in operation of ambulances in India and provided a detailed state-wise analysis on the condition of road ambulances.
The plea said in December 2023, the NITI Aayog had released two comprehensive reports which highlighted the spectrum and load of emergency cases and brought out the prevailing gaps in ambulance services, health infrastructure, human resources and equipment in the provision of optimal care.
The plea said the reports of NITI Aayog identifies the gaps in the operation of road ambulances in India and specifically, highlights issues, including that 90 percent ambulances were being run without proper equipment and basic facilities such as oxygen.
It said inadequate equipment and facilities in an ambulance enhances the possibility of premature death in transit or at least reduces the possibility of a full recovery from a serious ailment, which is violative of the fundamental right to life.
The plea said even though some states prescribe pre-conditions for registration of ambulances, there was no mechanism to either monitor or enforce this requirement once the vehicle was registered.
It has sought directions to authorities concerned to "enact and implement a framework to ensure adequate life support facilities are maintained in ambulances at all times, which facilities should include a list of necessary equipment, supplies and emergency medication".
Besides other prayers, the plea has sought directions to the authorities to establish or continue with a telephone or online helpline facility for public to report complaints pertaining to inadequate or improper facilities in ambulances or overcharging, rash-driving, delay in arrival or reporting of other discrepancies.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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