Kolkata : Manipal Hospitals Kolkata announced the official launch of its Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS) in the city, marking a major step forward in strengthening emergency medical response across Eastern India. As part of this expansion, the hospital unveiled a comprehensive fleet of 17 dedicated Manipal ambulances—including 5 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) units and 12 Basic Life Support (BLS) units—alongside 20 Kolkata Accident Response & Medical Assistance (KARMA) ambulances operating under a public–private partnership with Kolkata Police. The KARMA units provide specialised, rapid-response care for accident victims, ensuring critical golden-hour intervention.
Across India, Manipal Hospitals operates over 100 MARS ambulances, responding to more than 500 emergency calls daily.
Core Strengths of the MARS Emergency Response System
- Advanced ACLS & BLS ambulances equipped with life-saving critical care technologies
- Round-the-clock emergency operations by trained specialists
- 24/7 centralised, technology-driven Command Centre for rapid response
- 24/7 doctor-on-call assistance for critical interventions
- Digitalised auto-assignment system to deploy the nearest available ambulance
- GPS tracking & real-time updates for every unit
- QR code–enabled smart tracking for easy access and location sharing
- Seamless integration across all Manipal Hospital units
- One of West Bengal’s largest private ambulance fleets—17 state-of-the-art units
- Clean, sanitised, and well-maintained vehicles ensuring maximum patient safety
Launch Ceremony
The programme was attended by senior officials from Kolkata and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerates, including:
- Mukesh, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar Police
- Rupesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (TP), Kolkata Police
- Yeilwad Shrikant Jagannathrao, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Kolkata Police
- Nima Norbu Bhutia, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bidhannagar City Police
Senior dignitaries from Manipal Hospitals—Dr. Mabel Vasnaik, Mr. Madhur Gopal, Dr. Indranil Das, Dr. Kishen Goel, Dr. Sujoy Das Thakur and Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta—were also present.
A Flagship Programme for Pre-Hospital Emergency Care
MARS is Manipal’s flagship emergency initiative, designed to deliver full pre-hospital intervention during the critical first hour following an injury or medical emergency. Each ambulance is equipped with ECG machines, ventilators, defibrillators, multi-parameter monitors, syringe pumps, and other advanced technologies to stabilise patients en route.
Every emergency call is triaged by trained responders who evaluate urgency and dispatch the nearest available unit. In cases requiring immediate intervention, calls are escalated to an on-call emergency physician who guides the EMTs in real time.
Each ambulance driver is BLS-certified, and each unit is staffed with two EMTs trained to administer first aid, stabilise patients, and provide live clinical updates to ALS-certified doctors—ensuring seamless continuity of care from pickup to hospital admission.
Patients within Kolkata requiring admission to any Manipal Hospitals unit will also receive complimentary emergency drop-off when using the MARS ambulance service.
Expert Insights on Emergency Care Needs in Kolkata
Dr. Indranil Das, Senior Consultant & HOD, Emergency Care, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, said:
“Delayed medical care contributes significantly to adverse outcomes, with over 50% of cardiac arrest patients reaching hospitals late. Kolkata is witnessing a rise in cardiac and neurological emergencies. MARS will drastically reduce response times, especially for stroke and heart attack cases, improving survival rates.”
Dr. Kishen Goel, Consultant & HOD – Emergency, Manipal Hospital Broadway, added:
“Each minute saved can increase survival chances by up to 10% in cardiac arrest, stroke, or respiratory emergencies. MARS ensures that critical care begins at the patient’s doorstep through advanced equipment and trained specialists.”
Dr. Sujoy Das Thakur, In-Charge – Emergency Medicine, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, stated:
“Trauma and accident cases in Kolkata have increased significantly. With 16 Manipal ambulances supported by 40 KARMA units, we now have one of Eastern India’s most extensive emergency response networks.”
Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional COO – Manipal Hospitals East, said:
“Timely pre-hospital intervention can reduce mortality by up to 40%. Every minute of delay in cardiac arrest reduces survival by 7–10%. With MARS, our goal is simple—reach faster, treat sooner, and save more lives.”
A New Era of Emergency Response for Eastern India
With MARS now fully operational in Kolkata, Manipal Hospitals East aims to enhance the region’s emergency response infrastructure by ensuring that expert care begins the moment an emergency call is made, not when the patient reaches the hospital.
