Punjab Assembly examines the operations and expenses of air ambulances

During a meeting of the Punjab Assembly, specific statistics regarding the expenses and effectiveness of the Punjab government’s air ambulance service were provided.

Assemblyman Nadeem Qureshi questioned the effectiveness of the program. The air ambulance operation was created expressly to transfer severely ill patients in need of acute care, officials responded.

Two air ambulances that were purchased under a rental agreement are presently in use in the province, according to the Emergency Services Department Punjab. While Rs1.05 billion was spent on the service in the fiscal year 2025–2026, no expenditure was noted in the fiscal year 2023–2024.

The agency also announced that the air ambulance service has been assigned three medical officers, all of whom are BS-17 grade physicians. There have been 254 critically ill people transferred since January 1, 2024.

The total amount spent on patient transfers has reached Rs1.63 billion thus far, according to officials, and Rs58 million has already been paid in the current fiscal year 2025–2026. Currently, Rescue 1122 is in charge of the air ambulance service.