Karnataka Health Minister urges public to use alternatives as 108 ambulance workers threaten strike from October 14 night
Karnataka's Health Minister has urged the public to seek alternatives to the 108 ambulance service due to an impending strike and a significant shortage of operational vehicles. The government is currently planning a fleet overhaul and new tender process to address long-standing service issues.
Why it matters
The potential disruption of emergency medical services poses a significant public health risk, highlighting systemic failures in outsourced government services.
With 108 ambulance service employees threatening to go on strike from Wednesday night (October 14, 2026), Health Minister U.T. Khader on Tuesday urged the public not to depend solely on the service over the next two months, citing a shortage of operational vehicles and delays in emergency response.
Against a requirement of around 750 ambulances across Karnataka, only 350 to 400 are currently operational, resulting in delays of 45 minutes to an hour in some cases, Mr. Khader said. He advised people to use ambulances available at government hospitals at the taluk level during emergencies.
The government needs time until December to restructure the service and introduce a new fleet through a fresh tender process, he said. The existing fleet had deteriorated since 2018, making a revamp necessary.
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