Mumbai, August 5, 2024: Sumeet Facilities Limited India, in consortium with Grupo SSGMatrix, Spain and previous service operator BVG India will implement the New ‘Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services’ (MEMS) 108 Ambulance Project in the state of Maharashtra.

This project is set to transform emergency medical services in India with the integration of cutting-edge technology using advanced global standards. The 10-year large-scale initiative introduces a new operational model featuring state-of-the-art technology to boost service efficiency and effectiveness, bringing wide scale reform to the healthcare sector across Maharashtra, press release stated.

Currently, ambulance services across India operate primarily as Patient Transportation Services (PTS). The new project envisioned by the Government of Maharashtra aims to genuinely save lives by utilizing specialized medical equipment during the critical golden hour of a patient's emergency. The project, under the State National Health Mission, aims to provide pre-hospital health emergency services to patients in critical and non-critical conditions, utilising life support ambulances to stabilise and facilitate prompt mobilisation to nearby hospitals. The initiative covers a wide range of health emergencies, including road accidents, critical diseases, and natural calamities, among others.

Mr. Summit Salunke, Vice Chairman of Sumeet Group Enterprises, expressed his commitment to enhancing public health infrastructure and improving quality of life for citizens of Maharashtra through this exemplary government initiative. He conveyed pride of being associated with this ventures’ far-reaching impact on patient care and improving emergency response times across urban and rural areas. He appreciates and thanks the leadership and administrators of Govt. of Maharashtra for coming up with such high specifications and bringing EMS industry in India at par with European and North American standards.

Mr. Diego Prieto Oliver, Vice-Chairman of SSG Transporte Sanitario SL, remarked, "It is inspiring to witness Maharashtra adopt such a clear and innovative mindset with this project, raising its quality standards to align with global leaders. This initiative, which redefines emergency care as a network that brings hospital-level care to the patient, represents a substantial advancement that will revolutionize the EMS industry in India."

Built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model for the first time in India, with service provider contributing to 51% of the capital expenditure and the government contributing to 49%. MEMS-108 project is set to redefine emergency medical care by integrating advanced medical technology, data analytics, and high-tech communication systems. The program is designed to ensure faster response times across urban, rural, and tribal areas throughout the state, with 24/7 medical support through a state-of-the-art Emergency Response Center (ERC), based on NG911 standards and will be staffed with a specialized team of doctors.

Additionally, there will be a robust Information, education, and communication campaign to raise awareness about these free emergency services provided by the government. Further, this initiative will bring substantial benefits to the public by creating over 14,000 jobs in both skilled and semi-skilled categories, thereby generating significant employment opportunities. The project aims to deliver equal, international-level services to all 14 crore citizens of Maharashtra, ensuring comprehensive and equitable healthcare access. The government will benefit from increased public trust and transparency through improved service delivery, as well as reduced healthcare costs due to more efficient use of resources and enhanced capabilities in pandemic and disaster management situation in the state.

The project stands as a new benchmark in emergency medical services in India, promising not only technological advancements and operational efficiency but also a sustainable model for future public-private collaborations for quality service delivery by the service providers. The New MEMS 108 Project will be rolled out across the state in five phases in the coming months.