A Pune-based former Indian Air Force medical officer has come up with a cost-effective, utility-based micro-ambulance-cum-mobile clinic, called the Ambupod, to cater to rural and urban healthcare needs.

The three-wheeled motorless vehicle, Ambupod, can be attached to a two-wheeler to steer it through village roads as well as congested urban traffic, D Lavanian, its innovator, told BusinessLine on the sidelines of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) which began here on Tuesday.

The Ambupod is on display at the summit's innovation gallery as a product of LYNK Ambupod Pvt Ltd.

According to Lavanian, who holds a patent for the vehicle that is yet to be commercialised, it can handle about 15 diagnostic tests including ECGs and blood pressure. Apart from a stretcher, it can also accommodate an attendent.

"We have the instruments to provide primary medicare to patients, including oxygen," Lavanian said.

Compared to a normal ambulance that costs about Rs 15 lakh, the Ambupod costs about Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. "We are looking at funding to launch the Ambupod in 50 villages," he said.

A first prototype scalable hyperloop for carrying cargo and passengers developed by students from many institutions, including IIM-Ahmedabad, National Institute of Design, Indian School of Business and BITS-Pilani is also on display, along with an electric scooter developed by Bengaluru-based Ather Energy Pvt Ltd.

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