The Ministry of Transport and Highways in India has approved an official code for ambulances. Improved outfitting and increased safety while transporting patients who may receive appropriate treatment according to their condition while on board in order to be taken to the most suitable hospital.

The new guidelines will be put into effect thanks to the collaboration of the vehicle industry, which will supply emergency rescue and hospital medics to improve the efficiency of the services on board in accordance with rescue team requirements.

The official name of the new legislation approved by the Ministry is the National Ambulance Code AIS:125 recommended by the Central Motor Vehicles Rules-Technical Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC).

“This ‘code’ puts in place minimum standards and guidelines regarding the constructional and functional requirements of road ambulances in India. Drafted in line with the best global practices in the field of ambulance design, the code has been suitably adapted to factor in the special requirements of the Indian sub-continent, including traffic conditions, the need for economy and industry maturity,” the Ministry said in the official press conference on 7^th June.“

The Ministry of Transport had set up a committee chaired by Dr Shakti K Gupta, head of hospital administration of the All India Institute of Medical Science, to come up with a blue logo to distinguish ambulances. The code classifies road ambulances into four types: A, B, C & D; i.e. respectively “First Responder”, “Patient Transport”, “Basic Life Support” and “Advanced Life Support”.

The basic category of First Responder, which includes ambulances on two wheels, has been introduced for the first time in the country to deliver a prompt medical service even in extremely congested roads and areas of high-intensity traffic.

Special emphasis has been placed on aspects regarding ambulance ergonomics, patient safety, oxygen system design, infection control and crash rescue. Once implemented, the code will ensure uniformity and standardisation in ambulance design and a minimum level of patient care.

Click here to view the entire document about the new code.