Where the need for an Ambulance is greatest.

On June 3rd 2009, Ziquitza Healthcare (aka Dial 1298 for Ambulance) launched operations in Patna, in the Indian state of Bihar. This is a pilot project funded by the Government and operated by Ziquitza. Calling this an important health initiative would be an understatement, Bihar is one of the poorest states in India in terms of the HDI -poverty on a different scale than what I have experienced in Indian cities like Bombay.

Bihar has the 3rd largest population in India, however 85% live in the rural countryside, making safe transportation to a hospital extremely difficult. In Mumbai, those living below the poverty line have the option to take local, inexpensive transportation to the hospital, but in Patna there are few options outside of a cycle rickshaw, and as our CEO pointed out, imagine trying to transport a heart attack patient to a hospital in this manner. Launching a quality ambulance service that is universally affordable (admitted through Government subsidization) will greatly improve access to timely healthcare in this city, and eventually across the state.

To me this is the gold standard for a social enterprise. Convincing the Government of the need to take up funding for an essential initiative. The process is slow, but as is experienced throughout our head office today, the satisfaction of ensuring the expansion and longevity of a service we all believed in from the start is incredibly rewarding.

It feels like an important shift has started.