Blinkit Keeps Emergency Ambulance Services Free, Charges for Routine Hospital Trips

Blinkit Ambulance has introduced a charge of ₹2,500 for non-emergency patient transfers, while emergency ambulance services will continue to remain free. The move aims to prevent people from using fully equipped emergency ambulances for routine hospital visits and ensure that these vehicles remain available for patients who need urgent medical assistance.
 

Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal said the new fee would be collected after the journey is completed. He added that the amount is broadly comparable to the charges levied by private ambulance operators.
 

In a post explaining the decision, Goyal said Blinkit Ambulance had handled around 42,000 cases over the past two years. Of these, approximately 20,000 were emergency cases, for which users were not charged.
 

Why Has Blinkit Introduced the New Charge?
 

Goyal said the share of bookings for routine medical check-ups, hospital visits and transfers from hospitals to homes had been steadily increasing. Such journeys, he noted, could often be completed using services such as Uber or other private transport options.
 

He explained that the availability of free ambulance services had encouraged bookings for trips that did not necessarily require a fully equipped emergency vehicle.
 

According to Goyal, every such booking takes a paramedic-equipped ambulance off the road, potentially leaving it unavailable when another person needs urgent medical assistance.
 

He reiterated that emergency transfers would remain free of cost, while non-emergency transfers would attract a fee of ₹2,500, payable after the journey.
 

Revenue to Support Expansion of Ambulance Services
 

Goyal said the money collected from non-emergency transfers would go to the Eternal Foundation, which operates the ambulance service. The funds will be used to support and expand its operations.
 

He expressed hope that the new charge would significantly reduce the use of emergency ambulances for non-emergency purposes.
 

Goyal also identified the shortage of trained and compassionate paramedics as one of the biggest challenges in expanding high-quality ambulance services.
 

"Our training academy is working rapidly without compromising on quality," he said.
 

Blinkit Plans Expansion to Major Indian Cities
 

Goyal said the company's aim is to extend Blinkit Ambulance services to all major cities across India over the next two to four years.
 

He added that the 10-minute ambulance service had helped save several lives and stressed the importance of keeping it available for medical emergencies where timely assistance can make a critical difference.
 

The revised fee structure is intended to ensure that emergency vehicles and trained medical personnel remain available for patients who need immediate care.