Many a times the time taken to get a patient to the hospital determines its survival chances. The critical one hour period from the time of the incident to receiving medical attention, largely referred to as the ‘golden hour’ has a significant bearing on the survival chances of the affected. In India’s context, the infrastructure, outside of major city centers, is far from well developed, and access to several smaller villages and hamlets is restricted to dirt tracks. This terrain is difficult for most vehicles to quickly navigate, and in emergency situations, this seriously hinders patient survivability, making it extremely difficult to transport patients to hospitals and medical centers within the golden hour. Having mobile medical units in such situations therefore becomes a major asset.
Rukmini Enterprises Private Limited and Techno Village LLP collaborated for developing and marketing a unique utility solution. Rukmini Energy Pvt. Ltd. is operational with the aim of developing and promoting renewable energy as a feasible and sustainable source of power since the year 2009. Its commitment to the cause of continued development of technology, quality and reduction of costs and user friendliness is found across all its product offerings.
The collaboration between Techno Village and Rukmini took place in the year 2018 under a programme initiated by GIZ India for deployment of mobile Solar Water pumping systems in remote areas in the state of Bihar. A year later, Rukmini was working on producing the cheapest E-Ambulance in the country and Techno Village on its promotion. Priced at INR 150,000/unit. It is less than half the cost of the smallest available Ambulance working in the country at present, i.e. Maruti Omni, which costs something around INR 300,000/unit.
The E-Ambulance is developed with the idea of catering to the rural communities, who are largely isolated and relatively small. Setting up of healthcare centres in such isolated communities continues to be an unachieved target. With that said, the people residing in these pockets have a right to quality, just like everyone else, and the E-Ambulance is an excellent way to ensure that they get the care they need, especially in emergency situations. The e-ambulance is powered with four 12V, 100Ah batteries fuelling 1200W motor and has all basic facilities such as first aid kit, bottle stand, stretcher etc. Going ahead, Rukmini Energy plans to develop solar powered charging stations for the E-Ambulance and other e-vehicles.
Offering a decent speed and cost-effectiveness, mixed with the benefits of a health center i.e. good healthcare facilities, the E-Ambulance aims to solve several of the unique geographical, demographical, and economic issues that infringe on the healthcare rights of rural inhabitants, and give hope to countless individuals living in rural India
To test the functioning of these E-Ambulances, so far, 5 units of these are already being used by some of the social clubs in West Bengal to ferry patients from rural areas to the nearby hospitals/dispensaries.
With the marketing support from Techno Village, Rukmini intends to create awareness about the innovation throughout the country and even beyond, which is in line with the mission to ensure a healthy India for all its citizens, so that the last mile connectivity is provided to the needy patients and no one is left deprived in want of medical attention.