Bashir Ahmad Mir is holding a drip set in his hand as the ambulance negotiates the traffic jams to reach Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). Mir’s father is writhing in pain as he bleeds profusely and there are little chances that he may survive in absence of the emergency medical aid.

In valley, a couch and occasional oxygen unit is the only difference between the valley ambulances and the load carriers. And most of the times, the patients die even before reaching a hospital.

In violation to the guidelines set up the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the ambulances, the J-K’s Health directorate is using ambulances even without the Basic Life Support (BLS) system.

“The Ambulance services must carry equipment and medications as per requirement of treatment protocols,” a guideline issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says. “It must meet any international standard for Ambulance Supplies specifications”.

A white Mazda vehicle or a pickup van fitted with a couch is termed as Ambulance in the conflict ridden valley. The ambulance lacks even the Basic Life Support system – installed Oxygen System, Portable Suction Unit, Traction Splints, Padded Board Splints, Ring Cutter, Adult Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Apparatus), Defibrillator cum Monitor.

In fact, the couch too doesn’t meet the required specification. The international standards seek a ‘roll in, roll out type’ cot that meets the safety specifications and is fitted with the patient restraining devices to prevent displacement.

“These ambulances are no better than the passenger vehicles,” says Dr Niyaz Jan. “The ambulances of the Health department don’t meet even the basic requirements. This increases the mortality rate as no emergency medical aid is available to the patients”.

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