Medulance rolls out an Emergency Health Index survey to gauge is India future-ready for healthcare emergencies. The survey focuses on the awareness, demand, and impact of COVID for emergency care. The survey was rolled out to 100+ Indians between the age group of 25-55 in metro cities.
National, 17 December 2020: Pandemic has accelerated the demand for emergency infrastructure in India. But does an increase in demand ensure consumer satisfaction? The recent survey by Medulance, an end-to-end emergency response service provider, reveals that 80% of respondents have shown dissatisfaction with the current emergency infrastructure in India while only 20% express satisfaction with the services. The dissatisfaction amongst respondents is attributed to high response time, technology backwardness, quality & hygiene. Ambulances in the past were primarily booked for health emergencies, heart-attack, and COVID-19 by respondents.
Additionally, the survey brings out three critical themes about awareness, demand and impact of COVID in emergency services.
Emergency Awareness Index is fairly average
When Indians were asked about what number to dial in case of emergency, the majority (65%) of respondents were aware of the helpline number and opted for 102/112/108. While 15% said that they have no idea about the emergency helpline number. The remaining 12% answered 101 which is for fire emergencies and the rest 100 which is for police. Furthermore, (55%) of respondents confirmed that response time is vital for a strong emergency infrastructure. A well-connected system of booking, tracking, and availing ambulances is the need of the hour. In fact, high response time coupled with other factors leads to 40%-60% deaths in India which are preventable, as reported by sources. Availability of ambulance and access at remote locations are other areas that need improvement, said by (33%) of respondents. Remaining (10%) said the quality of ambulances and front-line staff demand attention from facilitators.
Emergency Care Demand is high
The ongoing pandemic has forced home-owners/ buyers to focus on health and well-being facilities. 84% of respondents suggested that emergency care is important to have and has become the new normal. Whereas 14% were indecisive on the importance and the remaining 2% still didn’t consider it to be important.
Majority of respondents (91%) think that ambulance and emergency care have become the new essential for a workplace. Work from Home is a developed concept now but an extension of healthcare services by employers to its employees is still emerging. 93% of respondents feel that emergency care facilities should be provided to the workforce. While 5% were indecisive and 2% feel it is not important.
Demand for emergency care in 2021
As per the report, 80% of respondents feel that the need for an emergency healthcare facility is going to outlast the pandemic and is extremely important for a post-COVID era. While 20% think it’s important in the coming times.
Commenting on the report, Pranav Bajaj, Co-founder at Medulance said,”It is eye-opening to see how the pandemic has transformed the need for emergency care in residential communities and workplaces – making it the most important factor not just during COVID phase but later too. We, at Medulance, strongly agree with survey findings that time and availability are the two major challenges in the emergency healthcare industry. Our team is making constant efforts to build a strong infrastructure for the year ahead with digitised ambulances, trained front-line staff and faster response time.”
About Medulance
Medulance Healthcare is India’s first and leading comprehensive end-to-end emergency response service provider. Launched in 2017, with the aim to make finding an ambulance as easy as finding food or taxis. Medulance has an aggregated fleet of 5000+ ambulances spread across 22 cities in India and has helped save and assist 50000+ lives till now. Medulance is extensively dealing in customised emergency response services including ambulatory services, medical rooms, a dedicated helpline for organisations, emergency management technology as well as first aid & safety training for leading Hospitals, Government, Insurance Companies, Connected Cars, Home-Security solutions, Corporates, RWAs, Schools along with direct patients/caregivers.
Medulance believes that high-quality ERS will be imperative for the success of a comprehensive healthcare system. It is on a mission to provide quick and reliable emergency care with an aim to save and assist lives by executing India’s fastest emergency response system by maintaining the biggest fleet of high-quality technology-enabled ambulances stationed strategically to provide faster response times.
Source: Business World
