Nadda launches operational guidelines for ambulance services

• Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda released the operational guidelines for National Ambulance Services on June 29.

• It is a comprehensive national framework for planning, operating and monitoring ambulance services across all states and Union Territories, with the objective of ensuring timely, safe and quality emergency medical transport for every citizen.

• The Operational Guidelines on National Ambulance Services (NAS), 2026 was released at the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare. 

Highlights of the guidelines:

• Ambulance services are the foundation of effective emergency medical care, serving as the first point of contact between patients and the healthcare system during medical emergencies. 

• The guidelines seek to establish uniform operational standards that will strengthen emergency response capacity across the country.

• The framework comprehensively addresses every aspect of ambulance service delivery, including ambulance categorisation, population-based fleet deployment, human resource norms, equipment specifications, medicines and consumables, competency-based training for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), infection prevention and control practices, vehicle maintenance protocols, quality assurance, performance monitoring and grievance redressal mechanisms. 

• The guidelines further stipulate that all ambulances shall conform to AIS-125 standards, ensuring uniformity, safety and quality in emergency medical transport.

• To enhance coordination and response efficiency, the guidelines advocate the establishment of Integrated Command and Dispatch Centres (ICDCs) supported by GPS-enabled ambulance tracking, digital call management systems, structured triage protocols, intelligent dispatch mechanisms and real-time monitoring dashboards. 

• They also envisage the progressive integration of ambulance services with the unified emergency response number ‘112’, enabling seamless access to emergency care across states and Union Territories.

• The release of the operational guidelines will mark a significant milestone in strengthening India’s emergency healthcare delivery system.