108 (emergency telephone number)

Dial-108, or one-zero-eight is a free telephone number for emergency services in India. It is currently operational in 18 states (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh) and two Union Territories (Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu). The 108 Emergency Response Service is a free emergency service providing integrated medical, police and fire emergency services. Government of Andhra Pradesh in Public Private Partnership with GVK EMRI launched the 108 Emergency Response Service on 15 August 2005 (GVK Press Release). This system was introduced nationwide by former Union Health Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss.[3]In Madhya Pradesh, the 108 GVK Ambulance facility was implemented in July 2009 by Honorable Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan. It was inaugurated by Health Minister Mr. Narottam Mishra. The service is a public-private partnership between state governments and private EMS providers. This 108 service was rolled out initially by Ramalinga Raju and his family in August 2005. It was initially a private funded initiative, but later signed MOUs with multiple state governments from August 2007.[4] In 2007, Chief minister Narendra Modi launched these services in Gujarat on 29 August 2007.[5] With the life-saving service becoming so popular in the rural parts of combined Andhra Pradesh, the (108) system was later introduced by the Central government of India in other parts of India. The system was originally designed by Satyam Infotech. As of November 2014, this service had handled over 540,000 emergency cases in India. From year 2017 to 2022, 108 service in Jharkhand is operated by Ziqitza Healthcare Limited. On an iOS device, "Hey Siri, 108" command to Siri will place an emergency call.

Force Traveller as 108 ambulance of Jharkhand
Force Motors Traveller based 108 ambulance of Tamil Nadu

108 emergency, the free-to-call emergency telephone number for medical, police, and fire services in India[1][2]

History

108 is the toll free number for an initiative called emergency management and research institute. It was launched by Satyam Ramalingaraju and family in 2005 in Hyderabad. The existing independent emergency services (100 for police, 101 for fire and 102 for ambulance) worked erratically and independently of each other. Ramalingaraju wanted to integrate these services and launched 108 to provide quicker response for the emergencies. Apart from Ramalingaraju, G Venkata Krishna Reddy was the major contributor for implementing these services . Dr. A.P. Ranga Rao,[6][7] has designed 108 EMRI service. In parallel to 108, Central government funded "Referential Transport System" was initiated under National Rural Health Mission. In Andhra pradesh Referential Transport system was supported through different NGOs from 2005 as PPP model. After Very first PPP model through tendering process in India was started in the Year 2007, Ziqitza Healthcare Limited was operating in Bihar from 2009 to 2019. RTS ambulance was slowly being implemented across the country and in Andhra Pradesh, it was implemented in 4 districts. To expand RTS ambulance service to other districts, Late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy has signed an MOU to utilize the Central government funds with the help of EMRI in 2007. EMRI has subsequently made similar kind of deal with other states nationwide.[8][9][10] The previously existing 102 emergency service is now being used explicitly for pregnancy related emergencies.

Scope

The Dial-108 service is available in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,[2][11] Telangana, Uttarakhand, Sikkim,[12] Jharkhand,[13] and Uttar Pradesh, and two union territories; Puducherry, Daman and Diu, and Chandigarh.[14]

How it works

When an emergency is reported, the call taker at the Emergency Response Centre (ERC) gathers the needed information, including location, and dispatches appropriate emergency services; be that an ambulance, police assistance, or a fire engine.[2]

Emergency help dispatched through this process is expected to reach the location of the emergency in an average of 18 minutes. Pre-hospital care will be given to patients during transit to hospital. Patients are transported in ambulances well equipped to handle emergency situations. Road and water ambulances are the two types of ambulances commonly used in India to transport patients. Two type of ambulances are Advanced Life support (ALS) and Basic Life support (BLS). Road ambulances are used across all its states. However, only a few states, namely Odisha, Assam, and Gujarat, along with two Union Territories, have been using boat ambulances.[15][16] Odisha was the first state to launch the boat ambulance by Ziqitza Healthcare Limited (ZHL) for remote areas.[17]

At present, there are only three providers: GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI),[18] Ziqitza Healthcare Limited (ZHL), and Bharat Vikas Group India-UK Specialist Ambulance Services (BVG-UKSAS)[1] who operate Dial-108 in Emergency in public private partnership with state governments. The service is normally free to patients.

In Maharashtra, Jammu, Kashmir, Dial-108, and in JK in addition to Dial-108, Dial-102 ambulance services are being run by BVG India Ltd. Dial-102 service is for pregnant women and child. BVG India Ltd chairman and MD is Mr. Hanmantrao Gaikwad. And EMS CEO is Dr. Dnyaneshwar Shelke. In Maharashtra, Dial-108 is launched by state government form 2014, this is free service by the Government and is being operated by BVG India Ltd. It was also operating this service in Andhra Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh BVG India also operating Dial-100 police helpline of the state government.

In 2022, Ziqitza Healthcare Limited started operating Dial 112 along with 108 Service, This Dial 112 which is in similar model of 911 model. One can reach to reach out to police, health, fire, and other services by just dialing one helpline number.

Siri prank

In March 2017, the Dial-108 emergency telephone number became the subject of a prank, in which victims would be told to say 108 to Siri, which would in turn command it to dial the respective country's emergency services.[19]

See also
  • Government of India
  • 102 (ambulance service) – Free Ambulance Service, an emergency medical transport service in India.

Other emergency numbers in India
  • Women Helpline: 1091
  • Women Helpline for Domestic Abuse: 181
  • Air Ambulance: 9540161344
  • Aids Helpline: 1097
  • Anti Poison New Delhi: 1066 or 011-1066
  • Disaster Management: 011-26701728-1078
  • EARTHQUAKE / FLOOD / DISASTER N.D.R.F: 011-24-363-260
  • Missing Child And Women: 1094
  • Railway Enquiry: 139
  • Senior Citizen Helpline: 1091 or 1291
  • Railway Accident Emergency Service: 1072
  • Road Accident Emergency Service: 1073
  • Road Accident Emergency Service On National Highway For Private Operators: 1033
  • ORBO Centre, AIIMS (For Donation Of Organ) Delhi: 1060
  • Call Centre: 1551
  • Relief Commissioner For Natural Calamities: 1070
  • Children In Difficult Situation: 1098
  • Central Vigilance Commission: 1964
  • Tourist Helpline: 1363 or 1800111363
  • LPG Leak Helpline: 1906[20]

References
  1. "108 in crisis: complacency and compromise undermine emergency services' potential". Economic and Political Weekly. EPW Engage (Economic and Political Weekly) – Yodasoft Technologies Pvt. Ltd.: 7–8 23 June 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  2. "'108' Emergency Ambulance Services". TNHSP.org. Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu Health Systems Projects. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  3. "Anbumani Ramadoss, 40 Minister of Health & Family Welfare". The Indian Express. 21 May 2009.
  4. "Calling 108: How One Institution Pioneered Emergency Medical Services in India". The Better India. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. "150,000 emergencies handled by 'dial 108' in Gujarat". India Today. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  6. "Dr. AP Ranga Rao – the man who gave 108 ambulance services passed away". MedicalReporterToday.com. Medical Reporters Today. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  7. "Dr. A.P. Ranga Rao dead". The Hindu. Telangana. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. Jishnu, Latha (8 August 2009). "The 108 business plan". Business Standard India. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. "G.V.K. Reddy to help EMRI, brainchild of Satyam Raju". TwoCircles.net. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. Mohan, B. Krishna Mohan; Kanth, K. Rajani (18 January 2009). "Govt may take over EMRI's Dial 108 ambulance services". Business Standard India. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  11. "Call '108' and save a life". The Hindu. Tamil Nadu. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  12. "Emergency medical response services of 108 and 102 launched in West Sikkim". NeNow.in. Northeast Now. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  13. "108 ambulance service started in Jharkhand; to reach within 25 minutes in urban areas". www.NewsBharati.com. NewsBharati – Bharati Web Pvt. Ltd. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  14. "Ambulance Under NRHM". PIB.gov.in. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 6 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  15. "'108' boat ambulance service launched to treat fishermen at high sea". www.NDTV.com. NDTV Convergence Limited. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  16. "Boat Ambulance". www.EMRI.in. GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  17. "Odisha first state to have boat ambulances for remote areas". The Times of India. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  18. "Emergency Management and Research Institute | GVK EMRI". www.EMRI.in. GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  19. Molina, Brett (24 March 2017). "Police warn about Siri '108' prank". amp.USAtoday.com. USA Today – Gannett. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  20. "List of emergency numbers in India". India Today. 25 March 2019 [February 26, 2019]. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
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