Kerala to get India’s first AR ambulance today

An ambulance and the facilities in it play a vital part in saving several precious lives. Realising this crucial aspect, India’s first-ever assisted reality ambulance is going to be launched in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram on April 11.

This AR ambulance will enable the doctors and specialists to not only see the patient in the vehicle but also give instructions and advice to the medical staff accompanying the person remotely. Developed by Apothecary Medical Services, a start-up based in Kochi’s Aluva area, the AR ambulance will be launched by Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament also has another novel feature – it is the first 5G-enabled ambulance in the State.

Among the facilities included in the ambulance is telemedicine software which will allow consultation with specialists during emergencies. Further, the experts in varied fields sitting in the hospital or elsewhere can carry out treatment of the patient by using smart eyewear. This will enable viewing of the images on the screen through the camera attached to the eyewear that will provide doctors the latest health status of the patient.

Thus, both software and technology will help in data transfer even while the patient is on the move.

Other highlights of the ambulance are inclusion of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation facility which provides prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to do so.

Apart from this it will have an intra-aortic balloon pump that helps the heart to pump blood when the organ is unable to do so.

The ambulance has already completed a 30-day trial run with 50 patients.

Dr Nadeem, the brain behind the ambulance with cutting-edge technology possible, was motivated with the aim to reduce the suffering of the patients and also casualty during transportation because of delayed treatment. The doctor who had witnessed several incidents of this suffering worked hard for two years to make this ambulance.

While initially the cost of the ambulance will be Rs.2.5 crore because of the software development, subsequently the cost will come down making the vehicle affordable.

The start-up is launching the ambulance in collaboration with Aster Medcity.