What does the Supro Ambulance's affordability mean for rural healthcare access?

Medical equipment and vehicles are very expensive; and access to healthcare is much affected when people in rural and economically disadvantaged areas can’t afford them. In this context, the Mahindra Supro Ambulance, priced much lower than many traditional ambulances, is an interesting case study. This also makes emergency vehicles more affordable for healthcare providers, small clinics and local governments. Better coverage in areas which had previously had no ambulance services could arise from this, as well as more responsive response times. But lower price comes at a cost, as well, in the quality the care on offer. Others claim that the basic Supro Ambulance just might not be robust enough to serve when dealing with intricate medical emergency cases. But others say any form of ambulance service is better than none at all. We also have to consider long term costs – the initial purchase may be cheaper but what does it cost to maintain and operate over time? The implications of this debate extend beyond the provision of emergency medical services to considerations of healthcare equity, resource distribution, and the provision of emergency services in a very diverse range of geographies and economies.