Lifeline Foundation launched the country’s first Hospital based EMS for a non-metro in India on 19th December 2005 based on the finding of the study on Emergency Medical Services in India which Lifeline Foundation undertook.

It was found that non metros like Vadodara do not have an organised pre-hospital care available. Lifeline thus followed constant deliberations with the officials of Collectorate, Municipal Corporation, Police and major private and public hospitals, Fire Brigade and representatives of NGOs.

It was then decided to explore the possibility of setting up an integrated trauma and emergency services in the city as a Public Private initiative. It catalysed the involvement of 9 hospitals in the private and public sector.

Subsequently a broad based representative EMS Council was formed with representatives from each of the hospitals and IMA with Lifeline taking on the responsibility of the permanent secretariat.

Highlights of EMS Vadodara

• Radio communication between control room, ambulances on road and EDs of hospitals

• Trained manpower in ambulances

• GIS to aid control room to guide ambulances

• Transparency in dispatch

• Medical direction

• Training of manpower in AHA (American Heart Association) courses

1. Multiple level Emergency Care Centres.

2. Centralized Ambulance Services.

3. Trained personnel (Doctors, Paramedics, and Ambulance Drivers & Attendants).

4. Training / Awareness of Community.

5. Injury Surveillance / Information Systems.

The model of a participatory EMS was so successful that it’s good practices were adopted as a benchmark for the Gujarat Government’s Emergency Services Act, 2007; this brought about drastic changes in the structure more so with the introduction of the PPP based “108” ambulances. The act had several components based on the evidences and discussions with the organizations actively involved for the cause - Lifeline Foundation led being one of the pioneers.

Since Lifeline and EMS Council of Vadodara strongly believes in not reinventing the wheel and is totally against duplication of resources where it already exists, the EMS COUNCIL OF VADODARA decided to hand over the services to the Government partner.

The EMS Vadodara model has since been adopted by various other non-metros in the country and even abroad.