The increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country has put a strain on the existing health infrastructure. To make things worse, there is a shortage of ambulances or operators are either unavailable or charging patients exorbitant amounts of money to get them to hospitals.

To tackle the situation, the Kochi Corporation in Kerala has converted several auto-rickshaws into ambulances to transport COVID-19 patients to the hospital and deliver medicines to patients who are under treatment at home. With eight auto-rickshaw ambulances, the service has begun in eight zones of Kochi on Monday.

The 24-hr ambulance service, which works in association with the District COVID-19 Control Room, will have the provisions of oxygen cabins, pulse oximeter, and infrared thermometers. As part of the service, 18 auto drivers have been given training on how to handle the patient and give them medical assistance. A mobile application through which the public can directly avail of the service without having to contact the control room is expected to be launched soon.