Delhi Govt Enhances Healthcare Access with New Ambulances, TB and Organ Donation Initiatives
In a striking tagline that underscores the urgency of emergency care, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today flagged off 11 new Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances, declaring that in Delhi “an ambulance should reach
In a striking tagline that underscores the urgency of emergency care, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today flagged off 11 new Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances, declaring that in Delhi “an ambulance should reach before pizza.”
Expanding the emergency fleet
At the event, the Chief Minister announced that the 11 ambulances will soon be joined by 42 more by October, bringing the total to 53, with a longer-term plan targeting 1,000 ambulances to strengthen the city’s emergency medical services.
Delhi currently has 277 ambulances under CATS; the new rollout is seen as a major push to bridge gaps in access and response times.
Health & allied initiatives unveiled
Along with the ambulance launch, Directorates of Health & Family Welfare introduced several related initiatives:
National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) support: Deployment of 40 TrueNat machines, 10 Patho-Detect machines, and 27 handheld X-ray devices to strengthen early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
Organ donation awareness portal: A digital portal launched to improve transparency and public awareness in organ donation and transplantation.
District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC): Inaugurated at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya to serve children with developmental delays, offering screening, diagnosis and intervention services.
“Before pizza”: A symbol, not just slogan
The Chief Minister used the “ambulance before pizza” catchphrase to signal her administration’s drive for speed and efficiency in healthcare delivery. She said,
“We want an ambulance to reach a patient even before a pizza is delivered.”
She emphasized that the initiative is not symbolic but part of a broader push to upgrade health infrastructure across the capital.
Infrastructure, reach & next steps
Officials present at the event noted that the new ambulances will be equipped with advanced life support features. The government will also expand procurement, training, and maintenance setups to ensure that the growing fleet remains sustainable and responsive.
The broader aim, they said, is to reduce response times across all parts of Delhi, including peripheral and underserved areas, as part of the health department’s strategic roadmap.
