From AC to inverter breakdowns, 108 ambulance vehicles cry for urgent attention in Odisha

A growing crisis in Odisha's emergency healthcare infrastructure has come to the fore following emergence of serious deficiencies in the state’s ambulance services. 

Ambulances are meant to be the first line of critical care for patients needing immediate medical attention. However, across Odisha, these vehicles are increasingly being reported as non-functional or severely under-equipped.

From Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to the remote districts of western Odisha, the condition of ambulances—particularly those under the government-run 108 emergency service—has deteriorated to a shocking extent, putting lives at risk.

Shocking Revelations Come To The Fore From Across Odisha

Issues range from air conditioners not working, inverter failures, non-functioning fans, and damaged lighting systems inside the ambulances—conditions unfit even for normal travel, let alone transporting patients in critical condition.

At Bhubaneswar’s Capital Hospital, which handles hundreds of cases daily, multiple ambulances were found operating without basic utilities like including ventilators. Patients, including elderly individuals and those with chronic conditions, are often transported in suffocating heat, especially during the peak summer months, with no access to cooling or ventilation inside the ambulance.

Not only in Bhubaneswar, but the 108 ambulances are also facing a lot of issues and breakdowns in different parts of the state.

The inverters, which are crucial for powering onboard ventilators and life-support systems, are defunct in several ambulances, rendering them incapable of stabilizing critically ill patients during transportation. Due to this, patients with breathing difficulties or trauma injuries are being shifted without the vital support systems they require, often with fatal consequences.
The Number of Ambulances & Their Conditions:

Odisha currently operates more than 1,300 ambulances under the 108 emergency scheme. However, a major share of these vehicles is in poor condition, especially in the interior and rural areas. While urban ambulances still manage to maintain some level of service, the rural counterparts are plagued with neglect. 

This has brought to light a glaring disparity in healthcare accessibility between urban centers and remote regions of the state.

Green Health Services, the private organization managing the 108 ambulance fleet in Odisha, acknowledged the issues when contacted. A senior official from the organization admitted that maintenance has lagged in several districts due to outdated infrastructure, procurement delays, and lack of regular servicing. 

What Green Health Services, Managing Ambulances, Says:

“At present, we have 1300 vehicles which operate 4 lakh kms per day. Obliviously, one or two will have mechanical failure and breakdowns. Every day, we are providing services to 6000 patients, and there will be some issues with vehicles in some districts,” said Sabyasachi Biswal, head of Green Health Services.

He further said, “We are dependent on major towns where the AC of these ambulances can be repaired.”

Experts are now demanding a full audit of all ambulance services in the state, regular inspection schedules, and immediate funding to restore basic facilities in these vehicles. They are also urging the government to implement district-level review mechanisms and digital dashboards that can track real-time service status, vehicle fitness, and patient feedback.

Situation in Cuttack

In a reality check, OTV found that the tyres of 108 ambulance being completely worn out. The AC is not working while the fans are not working for the last 6 months. “When we are going to service centre, we are being returned. The patients are facing a lot of difficulties. We are also facing problems in operating,” said a staff.

Despite the seriousness of the matter, the state health department is yet to release a comprehensive plan or timeline for the repair and upgrading of the ambulance fleet. Sources suggest that discussions are underway, and a high-level committee may soon be formed to assess the crisis and recommend solutions.