The Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) would soon begin its exclusive ambulance services to transport and treat stroke patients. Christened ‘Mobile Stroke Unit’, this ambulance would be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to diagnose stroke. Specialists in the ambulance would begin the treatment immediately after the patient is brought inside the vehicle.

Giving details about the unit, chairman of the Kovai Medical Centre Hospital (KMCH), Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami said the Rs. 4 crore stroke unit, procured from the United States, is the first of its kind in Asia.

Once the hospital receives a call seeking ambulance service (for a patient showing symptoms of stroke), the special unit would reach at the earliest. The specialists in the unit would assess the patient and carry out various tests in the ambulance itself even before reaching the hospital. The Mobile Stroke Unit has a mini intensive care unit with a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, laboratory and telemedicine facilities. The treatment for stroke would begin within three hours of diagnosis.

“Nothing brings greater joy to us than seeing a paralysed man walking back home normally.” Dr. Palaniswami added.

Dr. Mathew Cherian, Interventional Radiologist at KMCH said the hospital would appeal to the Government to make a green corridor for the mobile stroke unit. “While you are on the road, if you come across an ambulance, give way.

Every second is precious. You are doing your bit to save a life,” Dr. Cherian said.

Later talking to The Covai Post, Dr. Palaniswami said he hospital was working towards bringing air ambulance facility to Coimbatore. “If everything goes on well, the air ambulance service will begin this October. The air ambulance will operate across a radius of 250-kilometers,” he added. The hospital plans to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the air ambulance service.