Uttar Pradesh has significantly reduced the response time of its 102 ambulance service for mothers and children, bringing it down from over 11 minutes to just above seven minutes in recent years. On the eve of Mother's Day, health department officials announced that the average response time dropped from 11 minutes and 28 seconds in 2016 to 7 minutes and 6 seconds currently. This makes Uttar Pradesh the fastest state in the country in ambulance response, despite being India's most populous state.
Impact on Maternal Health
Officials emphasized that faster response times have been crucial for ensuring timely medical intervention for pregnant women, especially during childbirth emergencies in rural and remote areas where delays in reaching hospitals often prove life-threatening. The improvement is seen as a key contributor to the decline in the state's maternal mortality ratio (MMR). According to the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2021-23, Uttar Pradesh's MMR fell from 216 per lakh live births in 2015-17 to 141 in 2021-23.
Fleet Expansion and Modernization
ACS Medical and Health Amit Ghosh stated that the state inducted 1,554 new ambulances in 2019 and another 674 in 2023, replacing older vehicles with modern ambulances equipped with improved healthcare technology. Additionally, 306 extra ambulances were deployed to strengthen emergency coverage across districts. Currently, 2,270 ambulances operate under the 102 Mother and Child Service, assisting an average of 40,524 mothers and children daily.
Historical Response Times
Mission Director of National Health Mission, Dr. Pinky Jowel, noted that response times remained above 11 minutes between 2016 and 2021 and even touched 13 minutes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent improvements highlight the state's commitment to maternal and child health.
