As Zomato steps in to provide 10-minute ambulance response and train paramedics, many people are wondering—why isn't the government doing this? Isn’t it their responsibility to ensure such vital services?
Social media users are pointing out that something which should really be the government's responsibility is now being taken on by Zomato. After the company expanded its ambulance fleet and started its own paramedic training program to provide better emergency care, people are questioning why a private company has to step in.
Earlier this year, in January, Zomato launched a rapid-response ambulance service through its quick-delivery app Blinkit in Gurugram. Since then, they’ve increased the number of ambulances from just 5 to 12, showing a big commitment to filling this crucial gap.
A lot of people are talking about how Zomato is now doing something that should really be the government’s job—providing quick emergency ambulance services and paramedic training. This all started making headlines after Zomato announced they’ve expanded their rapid-response ambulance service and created their own training programme to make sure paramedics aren’t just skilled, but also able to show empathy when it matters most.
In January, through its delivery app Blinkit, Zomato kicked off the ambulance service in Gurugram with just 5 vehicles. Fast forward a few months, and now there are 12 ambulances spread across six depots, able to cover almost half the city. According to Deepinder Goyal, Zomato’s co-founder, they’ve already responded to nearly 600 emergency calls—half of them being real, life-or-death cases. Impressively, 83% of the time these ambulances have been able to reach the patient within 10 minutes.
Goyal pointed out that behind every call is a real person and their family, facing moments of fear, hope, and often desperation. He also noted how many people hesitate to even call for an ambulance, worrying it won’t arrive fast enough, so they end up taking taxis or personal cars in emergencies.
To improve things, Zomato is starting its own in-house training program to make sure paramedics are not only technically trained but can also provide comfort and support in critical situations. Goyal called the whole effort “one of the most resource-intensive challenges” the company has faced, but emphasized that it’s much more than just a project—it’s a responsibility they feel deeply about.
“We’re committed to learning and improving,” he said. “We won’t stop until everyone feels confident that help is just ten minutes away when their life depends on it.”
Goyal’s post sparked a lot of reactions online—some people admired the effort, while others raised serious concerns about the government’s role in providing such essential services.
One user commented, “It’s crazy to think that something so important, which should usually be handled by the state or central government, is being done by a private company instead. If a business like Blinkit can make this work successfully, then why can’t the government? The simple answer is the inefficiency of bureaucrats who just can’t get things done properly. Big respect to Deepinder and the Blinkit team for stepping up. Hopefully, the government takes a good look and learns a lesson from this.”
Another person wrote, “I’m torn between applauding and worrying. Now a private company is promising ambulances in just 10 minutes—something the government should be responsible for. Hospitals and public health systems are meant to protect taxpayers, not leave it to startups treating patient emergencies like food deliveries. This isn’t progress or innovation; it’s a clear sign that we’ve come to accept the system’s failures as normal.”
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