India, Nov. 14 -- The Public Health department recently extended the 108 ambulance service to private hospitals empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY). However, doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have called for further changes, demanding that the service be made available to all hospitals, irrespective of their empanelment status.

According to IMA doctors, restricting the 108 ambulance service to a select group of hospitals defeats its fundamental purpose - ensuring timely emergency response service. Most patients initially seek treatment at small and medium-sized private hospitals, which are not part of any government health scheme. As a res...