Kolkata, 27 November 2025: Manipal Hospitals Kolkata has launched its Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS) in the city, marking a major leap in emergency medical response capabilities across the region. The initiative significantly boosts access to life-saving treatment during the “golden hour” following accidents and critical illnesses.
As part of this expansion, Manipal Hospitals unveiled a strengthened ambulance fleet that includes 17 dedicated MARS units—comprising 5 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) ambulances and 12 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances—along with 20 KARMA emergency ambulances operated through a public–private collaboration with Kolkata Police and Manipal Hospital EM Bypass. The combined network will respond to more than 500 emergency calls daily.
Senior officials from Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate attended the launch, along with Manipal Hospitals dignitaries including Dr. Mabel Vasnaik, Mr. Madhur Gopal, Dr. Indranil Das, Dr. Kishen Goel, Dr. Sujoy Das Thakur, and Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta.
A Flagship Pre-Hospital Care Programme
The MARS initiative is positioned as Manipal’s flagship pre-hospital emergency care programme, offering rapid clinical intervention during the crucial first hour after a life-threatening injury. Each ambulance is equipped with ECG monitors, multi-parameter systems, ventilators, defibrillators, and critical care technologies needed to stabilize patients en route to the hospital.
Every MARS emergency call is handled by trained emergency response personnel who coordinate with a 24×7 technology-driven central command centre. Calls requiring urgent medical intervention are escalated to an on-call emergency physician, ensuring uninterrupted doctor-supervised care.
Core Strengths of MARS
- ACLS & BLS ambulances with advanced critical care equipment
- 24×7 command centre for real-time deployment
- GPS tracking and digitized auto-assignment system
- QR-based monitoring & inter-hospital connectivity
- Highly sanitized and well-maintained fleet ensuring patient safety
Manipal Hospitals now operates over 100 MARS ambulances, making it one of the largest private hospital ambulance fleets in West Bengal.
“Timely intervention can save lives”
Highlighting the urgent need for enhanced emergency services, Dr. Indranil Das stated:
“In India, delayed medical care significantly affects survival. More than 50% of cardiac arrest patients reach hospitals too late. MARS aims to reduce response time and enhance outcomes, particularly in neurological and cardiac emergencies.”
Dr. Kishen Goel emphasized that every minute gained in emergency care can boost survival rates by up to 10%, especially in cardiac and respiratory distress cases.
Free Ambulance Service for Manipal Patients in Kolkata
Patients requiring admission to any Manipal Hospitals unit in Kolkata will receive complimentary transfer via MARS ambulances when facing life-threatening conditions, further easing access to critical care.
