108 ambulance pilots to get Android phones

The state health department last year had launched the GPS-based mobile application called ‘Avasaram 108’. 

According to the officials, out of 930 pilots across the state 300 were given mobile phones and more will be provided in a phased manner. The TNHSP is operating 930 ambulances across the state and all the pilots will soon receive Android phones. 

“Such system will pave the way for ambulance drivers to track the accident spots easily. After 108-call centres receive an emergency call from the victim, who must have the mobile application installed on their mobiles, the call centre staff will be able to locate the caller through the app,” said a GVK-EMRI official. 

Later, those details will be transferred to the Android phones, which will be used by pilots, he added. 

At present, pilots find it difficult to reach the emergency spots on time. “However, things will be different henceforth, as the marker symbol on the GPS will guide the pilots like cab services and they can follow the mark to reach the spot,” added the official. 

“The health department last year provided only three such phones to pilots and we started providing around 300 mobiles phones in a phased manner in all the districts,” said another senior official. 

“We have been providing mobiles to all the pilots and the 108-call centre has also started receiving calls from those in need,” P Uma Maheswari, project director, TNHSP told DT Next.