The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Union government and others on a petition calling for the enactment of a regulatory framework to ensure that ambulances are equipped with adequate life support facilities at all times.
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, in its order dated October 10, issued notice to the Centre, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The notice is returnable in four weeks.
The plea, filed by Saiansha Panangipalli and Priya Sarkar, seeks directions to the authorities to set up an independent committee to review the ground reality of ambulance operations, maintenance, and regulation across the country, and to identify gaps between existing standard operating procedures and actual implementation.
Panangipalli is the daughter of eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr P Venugopal, former Director of AIIMS. The petition narrates how Dr Venugopal died en route to the hospital emergency room due to what it described as “the abysmal lack of emergency life support facilities in the ambulance,” including the absence of oxygen supply.
Senior advocate Percival Billimoria and advocate Jasmine Damkewala represented the petitioners. They clarified that the plea is not adversarial but seeks to address systemic inadequacies in emergency medical transport.
The petition highlights the absence of any enforceable regulation to ensure that ambulances are adequately equipped. It notes that many lives are lost unnecessarily when ambulances fail to provide critical care during transit.
Citing the 16th Common Review Mission report of the Health Ministry under the National Health Mission, the plea points to widespread mismanagement and inadequacies in ambulance services across states.
Further, two NITI Aayog reports released in December 2023 underline serious gaps in ambulance services, healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and equipment. The reports reveal that 90% of ambulances in India operate without proper equipment or even basic facilities like oxygen.
The petitioners argue that this situation violates the fundamental right to life, as inadequate equipment during emergencies can lead to premature deaths or reduced chances of recovery.
Among its key prayers, the petition seeks:
- A comprehensive regulatory framework mandating essential life support facilities, including a prescribed list of equipment, emergency medication, and supplies in every ambulance.
- A telephone or online helpline for the public to report issues such as inadequate facilities, overcharging, rash driving, delays, or other lapses.
- Mechanisms to monitor and enforce existing state-level pre-registration conditions, which currently lack follow-through after registration.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter next after receiving the responses from the concerned authorities.
