Frugal Innovations

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4. 1298 Ambulances

The Mumbai based ambulance service "dial '1298'" uses a cross subsidy model to provide affordable or free services for people who cannot pay more. Patients going to a private hospital are charged the full amount, patients going to a government/municipal hospital are charged a subsidised rate and free services are provided to accident victims, unaccompanied unconscious individuals and victims of mass casualty incidents. A hawk like focus on efficiency keeps the model financially viable. In 2007, the company had 10 ambulances in Mumbai[1]; now it has close to 100.



[1] http://www.acumenfund.org/investment/ziqitza-health-care-limited.html