Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 23: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Karnataka, Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Ivan D’Souza inaugurated and flagged off an electric buggy ambulance at the Government Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru.

The battery-operated vehicle, introduced under D’Souza’s MLC Local Area Development Fund, is the first to be deployed at a government hospital anywhere in the state.

“This is a small step with a big impact. Patients often face difficulty being moved across buildings, and this buggy ambulance will ensure smoother, safer transfers within the hospital campus,” said MLC Ivan D’Souza during the launch.

The facility is expected to significantly benefit patients who require transport between the old and new blocks of Wenlock Hospital—especially post-operative cases.

Surgeries are often conducted in the newer building, with patients shifted to the older wards after a day or two. Until now, such transfers involved standard stretchers or wheelchairs, often through crowded corridors or uneven paths.

With the new electric buggy, patients can be moved comfortably for procedures like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, which are typically located in different sections of the hospital. The eco-friendly vehicle also helps reduce dependence on conventional fuel-based transport within the hospital premises.

District surgeons, hospital administrators, and staff members welcomed the initiative and expressed gratitude to the MLC for funding the project.

“This is a much-needed facility, especially for elderly and post-surgery patients. It will improve the efficiency of our internal patient transport and enhance overall care,” said a senior hospital official.

The introduction of this electric buggy sets a precedent for other government hospitals across Karnataka, many of which face similar logistical challenges within large multi-building campuses.