{
  "id": 7863883,
  "title": "Thane Government Ambulances Get Digital Fuel Cards To Ensure Uninterrupted Emergency Services And Faster Patient Transport",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/thane-government-ambulances-get-digital-fuel-cards-to-ensure",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-16T20:07:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/thane-government-ambulances-get-digital-fuel-cards-to-ensure-uninterrupted-emergency-services-and-faster-patient-transport"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thane's Health Department has introduced 'Drive Track Plus' fuel cards for government ambulances in order to guarantee uninterrupted emergency services and accelerate patient transport. The initiative was launched under the direction of Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and is a result of a memorandum of understanding between Maharashtra and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). Each ambulance driver in Thane district has been issued a card, enabling vehicles to refuel without relying on immediate cash availability or experiencing delays in obtaining funds for diesel. The move aims to prevent interruptions in emergency patient transport, a crucial aspect of ambulance services that serve patients from rural, urban, and remote tribal regions. With the fuel cards, ambulances can promptly refill diesel, ensuring that emergency vehicles remain operational and can respond without unnecessary delays. The initiative is anticipated to benefit patients in remote and tribal areas, where timely access to healthcare and transportation can be crucial. Thane District Civil Surgeon Dr Kailas Pawar distributed the cards on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of ambulance services in emergency healthcare and the potential impact of the new fuel cards on preventing disruptions due to diesel shortages.",
  "summary": "Thane: In a move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted ambulance services and faster emergency response, the Health Department has introduced ‘Drive Track Plus’ fuel cards for government ambulances in Thane district, eliminating delays caused by diesel shortages and cash-related hurdles. Fuel Card Initiative Launched Under Health Department Direction The initiative has been launched under the guidance…",
  "key_points": [
    "Thane Health Department issues Drive Track Plus fuel cards for ambulances.",
    "Each ambulance driver receives a card to facilitate fueling without cash.",
    "Initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted emergency services and faster patient transport."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}