Ranchi: In a major healthcare reform initiative, the Jharkhand government is preparing to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based centralized call centre integrated with a fleet of 500 advanced ambulances, a move aimed at dramatically improving emergency medical response across the state and saving lives during the crucial “Golden Hour.”
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed officials to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for the AI-enabled ambulance management system, which is expected to modernize Jharkhand’s emergency healthcare infrastructure and ensure faster access to ambulances in both urban and rural areas.
The proposed AI-powered command centre will work as the brain of the state’s emergency response network, intelligently handling distress calls, identifying the nearest available ambulance, optimizing routes, and ensuring rapid dispatch of medical teams. The initiative will be integrated with 500 new emergency medical ambulances that the government plans to deploy across Jharkhand. Tendering for the ambitious project has already been initiated.
Race Against Time: Saving Lives in the Golden Hour
Officials say the project’s primary objective is to strengthen medical intervention during the “Golden Hour”—the first critical hour after a serious accident, heart attack, stroke, or medical emergency when timely treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
The urgency of such reforms is evident from concerns repeatedly raised by health experts and road-safety authorities in Jharkhand. Medical professionals have pointed out that a large majority of accident victims reach hospitals after the Golden Hour, significantly reducing survival chances. Faster ambulance deployment and better coordination are therefore seen as critical to reducing mortality rates.
आज स्वास्थ्य विभाग की समीक्षा बैठक में निर्देश दिए कि –
🎯 ANM और GNM के रिक्त पदों की तुरंत बहाली करें। स्पेशलिस्ट डॉक्टर्स और डॉक्टर्स की नियुक्तियां भी जल्द पूरी करें।🎯 प्रेगनेंट महिलाओं से जुड़ी खबरें सुनने को मिलती है, एम्बुलेंस सेवा को लेकर बहुत शिकायत आ रही हैं, यह भी… pic.twitter.com/eIIa6Si1Vb
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) June 2, 2026
Mega Tender Signals Major Upgrade
The state’s Health Department has issued a mega tender for the selection of a service provider to equip, operate and manage 500 Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) while integrating them with the upgraded 108 emergency response system. The project is estimated to involve a substantial investment and represents one of the largest emergency healthcare modernization drives undertaken in Jharkhand.
The initiative builds upon Jharkhand’s existing 108 ambulance service, which currently serves thousands of patients every month. The state already operates a large ambulance fleet and has been exploring ways to improve response efficiency through better call management and expanded coverage. Earlier, the government had also considered setting up dedicated zone-wise call centres to strengthen ambulance operations and ensure timely availability of emergency vehicles.
Reaching Every Village, Every Patient
A key feature of the proposed system is its focus on accessibility. The government aims to ensure that residents of remote villages, tribal regions, and urban centres can access ambulance services quickly and without procedural hurdles.
By combining AI-driven call handling with GPS-enabled ambulances and real-time fleet monitoring, officials believe the new system will reduce waiting times, improve coordination between hospitals and emergency responders, and make ambulance access more predictable and time-bound.
Towards a Smarter Healthcare Network
The initiative reflects Jharkhand’s broader push toward technology-enabled governance and public service delivery. Health officials believe that the integration of AI, data analytics, and a modern ambulance fleet will help create a more responsive emergency healthcare ecosystem capable of serving millions of citizens efficiently.
If implemented as planned, the project could position Jharkhand among the leading states in leveraging artificial intelligence for public healthcare delivery, while ensuring that life-saving medical assistance reaches patients when every second counts.
