Karnataka aims to reduce ambulance response time to 10 minutes
108 Arogya Kavacha scheme which was started in Vidhana Soudha in 2023. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Health Ministry is working to strengthen emergency medical services under the 108 Arogya Kavacha scheme with a focus on reducing ambulance response time and improving pre-hospital care, Health Minister UT Khader said on Thursday.
At a news conference, Mr Khader said the current national standard envisages that patients should be transported to a treatment facility within 20 minutes, which is often referred to as the “golden hour” in emergency care.
“Due to various factors, it has not always been possible to ensure this timeline in all cases. We are now implementing changes to the system to achieve a 10-minute response time, which we call the platinum hour,” he said.
The minister said that emergency care begins as soon as the ambulance reaches the patient and is not limited to transport. Ambulances are staffed by trained nurses and technicians who can provide stabilization and immediate medical assistance during transport.
Jan Aushadi Center
Responding to queries regarding the sale of branded medicines at Jan Aushadhi centres, Mr Khader said that such outlets are not allowed to directly sell medicines of private companies outside the prescribed norms.
“Drugs sold through Jan Aushadhi centers must meet the standards set by the government and scheme guidelines. These centers have been established to make available quality generic medicines at affordable prices,” he said.
The minister warned against practices that could mislead consumers by selling drugs that do not meet government standards under the guise of affordable healthcare.
“The objective of Jan Aushadhi centers is to provide cheap medicines to the public. There should be no attempts to abuse this trust by promoting products that do not conform to the prescribed norms,” he said.
Published – 25 Jun 2026 19:39 IST