Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Nagaland on Friday — handing over medical equipment to a local hospital in Kiphire. The CSR contributions from State Bank of India included medical and hospital equipment with nearly Rs 65 lakh as well as five bike ambulances worth Rs 20 lakh. A video that has since gone viral on social media showed the FM flagging off the multi-utility bike ambulances at the District Hospital.
And while Sitharaman lauded the SBI contribution for helping to strengthen healthcare services in Kiphire, the bike ambulances made waves on social media for all the wrong reasons.
“If I don’t die from the injuries, I’d definitely die from the embarrassment of being taken in one of these,” wrote one Instagram user.
“I would suggest walking to the hospital than riding that ambulance,” urged a second.
“I’d rather succumb to my injuries. Thank you,” concluded a third.
Others expressed concern about the safety measures and noted that the bike ambulances did not appear to include shock absorbers. The vehicles — shaped similar to a sidecar bike — will place the patient close to the ground with a rider alongside. This also sparked concern that patients might incur additional injuries if the bikes were rushing through bad roads.
“Patient won’t be able to sit or lie down in this Ambulance. Also it doesn’t have shock absorber. Patient will die before reaching hospital,” concluded one user.
“Wow! Good initiative. I mean, it already has a metal coffin attached. Direct ride to the graveyard,” jibed another.
Many were also baffled about how patients were expected to fit inside the awkwardly-shaped vehicles — sparking off some hilarious (albeit grim) jokes in the comment section.
“So the patient is supposed to sit or fully lie down?” asked one baffled Instagram user.
“He’s supposed to ‘fall off’ the other side.”
“Actually the patient will ride the bike.”
“The patient is supposed to die in this.”
“He’s supposed to die from embarrassment.”
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