Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 29 (IANS): India-based Ziqitza Health Care Limited (ZHL) has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) global initiative to expand its ambulance services across India, Africa and Latin America, a company official said.
With this initiative, the firm aims to increase the number of patients served from two million in 2012 to seven million by 2015. According to the Fitch Ratings Agency, the Indian health care sector is expected to reach more than $100 billion-worth by 2015.
ZHL aims to save human lives by creating a strong network of fully equipped ambulances across the developing world to act as a robust emergency response mechanism.
Launched in 2008, BCtA seeks to harness the power of business investments to reduce extreme poverty and improve the lives of millions of people across the world.
BCtA aims to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by challenging companies to develop inclusive business models that offer the potential for both commercial success and development impact.
The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Australian Agency for International Development, the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Britain's Department for International Development, US Agency for International Development, UN Development Programme, the UN Global Compact, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the International Business Leaders Forum to meet the MDGs by 2015.
In India, ZHL partners with various state governments to provide ambulances under the brand "Dial 108 in Emergency". It is currently operational in Bihar, Punjab, Odisha and in Thiruvananthapuram.
ZHL also operates a private ambulance service "Dial 1298 for Ambulance" in Mumbai, and in Punjab, Bihar and Kerala.
"We are pleased to continue to reach new patients and serve clients who often have no access to the quality health services or ambulatory services they need. We are confident that the ZHL programme will also allow us to expand our services to much needed clients across the country," said ZHL chief executive officer Sweta Mangal.