Study of Emergency Response Service (<strong>EMRI</strong> Scheme)a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the call to the number 108 is a Toll Free serviceaccessible from landl<strong>in</strong>e or mobile.Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the GoR data, the service <strong>in</strong> Rajasthan operat<strong>in</strong>g with a fleet of 100ambulances <strong>in</strong> 2008-09 averaged about two (1.14 23 ) trips per ambulance per day, travell<strong>in</strong>ga distance of around 16 km per day per ambulance, mean<strong>in</strong>g the ambulances are averag<strong>in</strong>ga little less than 15 km per trip. As the operations began with 50 ambulances <strong>in</strong>itially and theother 50 were added to the fleet around Nov-Dec 2008, the later 50 ambulances areaverag<strong>in</strong>g less than one trip per day (till Feb ’09). Also, as per the data provided by <strong>EMRI</strong>and the GoR for 2008-09 24 , ambulances were despatched <strong>in</strong> the case of 1.21% of all thecalls received. Medical Emergencies were 78% of all the cases transported, of which 20%were pregnancy related and almost 40% were trauma cases. For the month of February2009 (till 18 th Feb), the correspond<strong>in</strong>g figures showed that 1.46% of calls requireddespatches. Of these, 82% were medical emergencies and 18% were police calls. Of themedical emergencies, 42% were trauma related, of which 38% were RTA (Road TrafficAccidents) and 25% were pregnancy related, while 21% fell <strong>in</strong>to “others” category.The ambulances are procured from TATA Motors, complete with fitt<strong>in</strong>gs as per thestandards prescribed by <strong>EMRI</strong>. The procurement of these ambulances is done by <strong>EMRI</strong> withfunds from the GoR, projected (as per the MOU) at an average capital cost of Rs. 24 lacsper ambulance, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g cost of IT and call-centre <strong>in</strong>frastructure. Similarly, the opex wasprojected <strong>in</strong> the MOU to be around Rs. 11.47 lacs per ambulance per year. Analys<strong>in</strong>g theaudited balance sheet and expenses statements of <strong>EMRI</strong> Rajasthan for 2008 25 (till Dec ’08),we f<strong>in</strong>d that the expenditure was Rs. 34.06 26 lacs per ambulance (capex for 100 ambulances<strong>in</strong> the 1 st year). Similarly, the operat<strong>in</strong>g expenses (opex) per ambulance were Rs. 11.96 lacs(annualised). Look<strong>in</strong>g at the actual number of trips and kilometres travelled by theambulances (adjusted on pro-rata basis till Dec ’08) the operat<strong>in</strong>g cost turns out to be Rs.2,700/- per trip. The audited statements also reveal that the share of NRHM’s funds <strong>in</strong> thetotal cost (opex + capex) were <strong>in</strong> the tune of 98% <strong>in</strong> the year 2008. It also shows that capitalcost is 73% of the total cost (this be<strong>in</strong>g the 1 st year of operations). Look<strong>in</strong>g at the break-up ofoperat<strong>in</strong>g cost, we f<strong>in</strong>d that <strong>in</strong> Rajasthan, salary (of operations staff) consumes 47% of theopex, adm<strong>in</strong>istrative expenses are 38% and cost of runn<strong>in</strong>g the ambulances is only 15% ofthe opex. This clearly h<strong>in</strong>ts at low usage of the vehicles.23 Calculated assum<strong>in</strong>g an average of 4 months (120 days) for the ambulances as the ambulances are 6 months to 2months old. Data has been based on Annex 7-R (Ambulance wise details of despatches and distance travelled dated18 th February 2009) and Annex 8-R (Daily call and despatch report by type of emergency dated 18-02-2009)24 Ambulance wise details of despatches and distance travelled dated 18 th February 2009, and Daily calland despatch report by type of emergency dated 18-02-200925 Annex 3-R (Audit report of <strong>EMRI</strong> Rajasthan for three quarters end<strong>in</strong>g 31 st December 2008)26 This <strong>in</strong>cludes the cost of sett<strong>in</strong>g up the <strong>in</strong>frastructure for call centre, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g facilities, etc. Of this, actual cost ofambulance procurement was only around Rs. 11 lakhs per ambulance.National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC)15
Study of Emergency Response Service (<strong>EMRI</strong> Scheme)4. Comparative Analysis of Key F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gsThe f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs of the <strong>EMRI</strong> appraisal <strong>in</strong> the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat andRajasthan, based on the <strong>in</strong>teractions with the key officials as well as analys<strong>in</strong>g the documents,reports and audited statements, are summarised <strong>in</strong> the table below.Table 2: Comparative analysis of <strong>EMRI</strong> provided Emergency response services (ERS) <strong>in</strong> AP,Gujarat, and RajasthanIndicators Andhra Pradesh Gujarat Rajasthan1. Present no. of ambulances 652 402 100Data Source:2. MOU effective s<strong>in</strong>ce... (till Feb’09)Data Source:Annex 16-A (Nationalperformance dailyreport for 17 th Feb ’09)April 2005(4 years)Annex 1-A (MOUbetween GoAP and<strong>EMRI</strong>)Annex 16-A (Nationalperformance daily reportfor 17 th Feb ’09)August 2007(1.5 years)Annex 2-G (MOUbetween GoG and <strong>EMRI</strong>)Annex 16-A (Nationalperformance dailyreport for 17 th Feb ’09)May 2008(9 months)Annex 1-R (MOUbetween GoR and <strong>EMRI</strong>)3. MOU/contract period 1-year, renewable 5-years, renewable 5-years, renewableData Source:4. Average no. of trips perambulance per dayCalculated from:Annex 1-A (MOUbetween GoAP and<strong>EMRI</strong>)Annex 2-G (MOUbetween GoG and <strong>EMRI</strong>)8.1 4.31(1.44 <strong>in</strong> the 1 st year)Annex 15-A:Emergency Call DailyReport 03 November2008Annex 6-G (Ambulancewise emergency datasetdated 14/01/2009)Annex 1-R (MOUbetween GoR and <strong>EMRI</strong>)1.14Assum<strong>in</strong>g an average of4 months (120 days) perambulances, based onAnnex 7-R (Ambulancewise details ofdespatches anddistance travelled dated18 th February 2009) andAnnex 8-R (Daily calland despatch report bytype of emergencydated 18-02-2009)5. Distance travelled per trip 29 km 30 km 14.38 kmCalculated from: --- --- Annex 7-R (Ambulancewise details ofdespatches anddistance travelled dated18 th February 2009)6. Ambulances dispatched as8% 8.24% 1.21%percentage of calls receivedCalculated from:7. Pregnancy related cases aspercentage of emergenciestransportedData Source:8. Trauma/accident accidentcases as percentage ofAnnex 15-A:Emergency Call DailyReport 03 November2008Annex 7-G (Emergencyresponse centre dailyreport for Gujarat dated31/12/2008)Annex 8-R (Daily calland despatch report bytype of emergencydated 18-02-2009)21% 33.7% 20.13%Annex 15-A:Emergency Call DailyReport 03 November2008Annex 7-G (Emergencyresponse centre dailyreport for Gujarat dated31/12/2008)Annex 8-R (Daily calland despatch report bytype of emergencydated 18-02-2009)18% 23.2% 39.13%National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC)16