Bhubaneswar: Putting technology to use for better COVID management and quick transfer of patients to the Dedicated COVID Hospitals (DCHs) and COVID Care Centres (CCCs), the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started GPS tracking of ambulances.

While the city authorities have a fleet of 64 ambulances under the COVID management programme, 40 have already become GPS-enabled and the rest will be fitted with the tracking devices very soon. Bhubaneswar Smart City Ltd (BSCL) is looking after the technological upgradation part of the ambulances engaged on COVID duty.

When a patient is referred for shifting to a DCH or CCC after due tele-consultation at BMC COVID care 24x7 Helpline 1929 operating from Smart City office, BMC allocates an available bed in one of the COVID hospitals or CCC. An ambulance is alerted to pick the patient from his/her residence. These ambulances are now fitted with onboard GPS units for real time tracking. This provides an estimated time of arrival of the ambulance to the patient’s residence.

It would be pertinent to mention here that out of 64 ambulances, 3 each are with respective 3 administrative zones under BMC. This number will be increased by 7 in each zone making availability of 10 ambulances in each zone under the zonal control room for ambulance operation.

Similarly, rest of the 34 ambulances are at Capital Hospital under a Central Ambulance Control Room. It is coordinated by an OAS officer.