Mangaluru : KMC Hospital launched ‘Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS)’ at Ambedkar Circle, Mangaluru on Friday, June 26.

The ambulance service was flagged off by Superintendent of Police Dr Sharanappa S D and said MARS is aimed at helping the patients better with added medical services equipped in the ambulance itself.

“Equipped with air-conditioner and advanced cardiac life support, patients can now have their treatment started in the ambulance itself, even before reaching the medical destination at the time of emergency” he added.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University Dr V Surendra Shetty stated that MARS is a complete medical emergency solution which offers the most advanced, comprehensive service and transportation during medical emergency.

“Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances will be stationed at crucial junctions in the city round the clock to attend to patients in distress. In case of any medical distress or emergency, the patients can dial 2222227 and their criticality will be addressed in the shortest period of time by trained medical representatives from KMC Hospital,” he added.

Unit Head of KMC Dr Sagir Siddiqui said that the concept was MARS was thought of by the top management.

“The centralized 24×7 call centre and well-trained emergency response centre physicians will attend the emergency calls. All the ambulance drivers are trained on basic life support programmes to manage adult and pediatric emergency. The emergency number will not only give out directions in handling the initial criticality but will also provide that extra bit of time before the person is sent to the hospital’s world class emergency service,” he added.

ACP(traffic) Uday Nayak, Medical Superintendent of KMC Dr Anand Venugopal, Dean of KMC Dr M V Prabhu and others were present.