While some government ambulance services are present, in the case of a medical emergency, go to the nearest private hospital. These also provide ambulance services, which are provided for a fee.
However, ambulance is not necessarily the quickest or most reliable way to get to hospital because of traffic congestion and motorists’ tendency to ignore ambulance sirens. Most people use private transportation to get to hospital in an emergency, relying on a family member, friend or neighbour rather than waiting for an ambulance. In accident situations, complete strangers often ferry people to the hospital in their car.
It is advisable to carry the telephone number of a good private hospital (and the number of the ambulance service) at all times in case of an emergency.
These private companies operate hospitals in major cities and their websites have contact details for their hospitals with accident and emergency units, and phone numbers for ambulance services:
ServiceTelephoneAmbulance102Emergency response service for medical, police and fire emergencies. Available in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh 108
24-hour PharmaciesEvery major city has several 24-hour pharmacies. Listings can be found on justdial.com.
Blood donationDonate blood or request a blood donation via the nationally coordinated network NEBDO
However, ambulance is not necessarily the quickest or most reliable way to get to hospital because of traffic congestion and motorists’ tendency to ignore ambulance sirens. Most people use private transportation to get to hospital in an emergency, relying on a family member, friend or neighbour rather than waiting for an ambulance. In accident situations, complete strangers often ferry people to the hospital in their car.
It is advisable to carry the telephone number of a good private hospital (and the number of the ambulance service) at all times in case of an emergency.
These private companies operate hospitals in major cities and their websites have contact details for their hospitals with accident and emergency units, and phone numbers for ambulance services:
ServiceTelephoneAmbulance102Emergency response service for medical, police and fire emergencies. Available in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh 108
24-hour PharmaciesEvery major city has several 24-hour pharmacies. Listings can be found on justdial.com.
Blood donationDonate blood or request a blood donation via the nationally coordinated network NEBDO
Crisis and Help Line Telephone NumbersDrugs: 24-hour CARE helpline for alcoholism and drug addiction(040) 2779 0278, 0984 826 3919
HIV/AIDS: 1800 180 2008 (from BSNL/MTNL phones only) 0172 2662172 (from all lines) Child abuse: 1098 Domestic abuse and sexual violence: 181 Suicide/crisis line: 24-hour helpline(044) 2754 6669 Anti-poison: 1066 Cancer helpline: 99 105 16562 Emergency contraception: Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh, New Delhi National helpline providing information on reproductive health issues. One of the first national helplines, JSK provides information on reproductive health issue |