Emergency Medical Services (MEMS-Dial 108), the public-private-partnership ambulance project of the Maharashtra government has been selected as the best practice in digital health initiatives.

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, along with the World Health Organisation (WHO), organised the three-day Fourth Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) Summit in New Delhi on February 25. India is hosting this event for the first time. The first three editions were held in Canberra-Australia, Washington DC-US and London-UK. The Government representatives from 23 countries are attending the GDHP.

The member countries discuss and share best initiatives in healthcare that use data and technology and also share know-how to implement them in their respective areas, said in a release. MEMS-Dial 108, a unique emergency medical ambulance project of Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Maharashtra.

Through a network of 937 fully equipped medical ambulances spread across the state, the government provides free medical care to all its citizens during any medical emergency. The ambulances are accessible to all citizens free of cost, on a toll-free call to the number 108 from any mobile and landline from within Maharashtra.

Pune-based BVG India Limited and London-based UKSAS are the implementing partners of MEMS for the Maharashtra government. BVG is the leader and pioneer of integrated services in India. BVG also has set up a state-of-the-art Control Room in Pune. The control room operates 24 x7 all calls from across Maharashtra, where in the expert call handlers’ understand the emergency and connect the patient to the doctor in the ambulance and dispatch the nearest ambulance to rescue the patient.

The 108 emergency services cover all the urban, rural and remotest of places of the state with a well-equipped trained and expert team. Andhra Pradesh is the second state after Maharashtra to implement the project in association with BVG. AP kicked off the project in 2017. BVG also has set up a state of the art Control Room at the state capital of Amravati.

Commenting on the development Hanmantrao Gaikwad, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), BVG India Limited, said that it is a proud moment for Maharashtra and India that a home-grown public service project like MEMS is chosen by WHO and Union Ministry of Health to showcase before other countries.

Started in January 2014 in Maharashtra, the MEMS has received 1.54 crore calls, and has served 37 lakh emergency patients till date. This includes over 3 lakh cases of vehicle accident and around 9 lakh pregnancy related cases. Over 30,000 childbirths have taken place in the ambulances, it added.