Blinkit, the popular rapid grocery delivery app, has launched a 10-minute ambulance booking service for residents of Gurugram. This initiative aims to provide quick access to emergency medical assistance and is set to expand to other cities soon.
CEO’s Announcement
Blinkit’s CEO, Albinder Dhindsa, shared the news on social media platform X, saying, “We are taking our first step towards solving the problem of providing quick and reliable ambulance service in our cities.”
Starting immediately, five ambulances will operate in Gurugram. Dhindsa added that the service would expand, allowing users to book Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances through the Blinkit app.
Ambulance Features
The ambulances are equipped with life-saving tools, including oxygen cylinders, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), stretchers, monitors, suction machines, emergency medicines, and injections. Each ambulance will have a trained driver, a paramedic, and an assistant to ensure proper care during emergencies.
Affordable and Long-Term Vision
Dhindsa emphasized that affordability is key to this initiative. “Profit is not a goal here. We will operate this service at an affordable cost for customers and invest in solving this critical problem for the long term,” he said. Blinkit plans to roll out this service to major cities across India within the next two years.
Social Media Reactions
The announcement has been met with praise from many, including Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm, who called it a “well-thought-out use case.” However, some expressed concerns about the possibility of surge pricing during high demand.
One user, Ajay Gupta, humorously commented, “Next thing you know, there’ll be a ‘surge pricing’ for heartbeats. Hope the ambulance arrives before the patient runs out of time… or funds!”
Blinkit’s 10-minute ambulance service has the potential to transform emergency medical response in India. As it scales up, the company’s focus on affordability and reliability aims to address critical healthcare challenges in urban areas.
