Calling 108 Arogya Kavacha ambulance during a medical emergency in Karnataka will soon feel like booking a cab, but with a life-saving purpose. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the new 108 Command and Control Centre, an integrated emergency response system aimed at reducing delays by directing patients to the right hospital, not just the nearest one.
Integrated Emergency Platform
The centralised centre links multiple helplines, including 104 Arogya Sahayavani, 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), TeleManas mental health helpline (14416), eSanjeevani telemedicine, 181 Women’s Helpline, and 1098 Child Helpline, improving coordination between departments.
How the System Works
When a caller dials 108, the command centre automatically identifies the location via GPS. The software tracks the nearest ambulance and maps nearby government health facilities such as PHCs, CHCs, taluk and district hospitals. Based on the emergency type, the system decides the best-equipped facility. For instance, a trauma patient may be directed to a district hospital with ICU and specialists, while a less critical case may go to a PHC for stabilisation.
Once dispatched, the caller receives an SMS with ambulance details and a live tracking link. The system integrates the state's 108 ambulance fleet and state-sector ambulances stationed at government hospitals. While 108 ambulances have trained EMTs for pre-hospital care, state-sector ambulances handle inter-facility transfers.
Previously, locating callers accurately, especially in rural areas, was a major challenge. With live-location mapping, dispatchers can now identify callers instantly on digital maps.
Future Enhancements
The health department has mapped government hospitals and is integrating private ones and real-time hospital dashboards. Future updates will display live ICU availability, specialist duty rosters, and emergency care capacity. The software, developed with C-DAC, is hosted at the Karnataka State Data Centre for secure data storage. Privacy safeguards are planned, including masking caller phone numbers from telecallers and ambulance staff while retaining central command access.
Government's Vision
CM Siddaramaiah emphasised the golden hour: “Every second matters when saving a life. This upgraded system strengthens healthcare and emergency services.” Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao noted that the 108 service, launched in 2008, was previously operated by a private organisation. After concerns, the government upgraded and now directly manages it, studying global models including Singapore's. The system was piloted in Chamarajanagar and is now operational across all 31 districts, receiving over 8,000 calls daily, though many are enquiries or prank calls.
