Mohammed Shahzore Khan is a 43 year old owner of a customizing motorcycle workshop located at Nampally, Hyderabad.
“I live with bikes. I always wanted to create something which will help people in need,” said Mohammed.
The hardworking and dedicated man has invented a motorcycle ambulance. The ambulance is properly equipped with medical supplies and an oxygen cylinder.
Mohammed explained his invention, “It is a mini ambulance that has all the facilities an ambulance normally provides. It has a stand for an oxygen cylinder, a shade over the bed, a small fan, a first aid box and a stretcher.”
The sidecar is spacious enough for the patient to lie down or sit. The ambulance has a foldable stretcher at the bottom that can be used to transfer the patient in and out of the ambulance. The stands between the bike and the sidecar can hold IV lines and an oxygen tank.
Mohammed came up with the idea when he and his wife came across a number of articles that spoke about the lack of ambulances in areas. Khan spoke about the one instance that pushed him to the invention, “Last year, I saw the news about Ramulu, who carried his wife’s dead body in a pushcart, traveling all the way till Vikarabad town in Telangana, as he did not have money to arrange for an ambulance. I wanted to create something that can address this issue.”
Mohammed took around 35 days to design the bike ambulance with the help of his team at the Deccan Motorcycle and Scooter Garage.
Mohammed spent around Rs. 1 lakh to build the ambulance with the side car. “This is the first model we have created. However, the cabin itself costs Rs. 65,000. We are planning to make another design where we can bring down the cost of the ambulance so that it is more affordable.”
The bike ambulance would solve one of the biggest problems of ambulances getting stuck in traffic. He said, “A bike can zip through heavy traffic. We keep hearing tragic stories about patients who lost their lives because they couldn’t reach the hospital on time due to traffic. Most of the ambulances face this issue of traffic in India. However, a bike can easily avoid the traffic. This ambulance has been made keeping in mind the traffic issue in the country.”
Mohammed is not interested in making the bike ambulance a commercial venture even though he has been approached by many major hospitals across India. Instead, he wants to ensure it helps people in need.
Mohammed’s main aim is to target the rural medical centers that have a lack of ambulances. He explained, “The big hospitals would not serve the purpose. My wife, Zeenat, who handles all the administration and the marketing for the bikes we make, has suggested that we provide the bike ambulance to small hospitals or clinics situated in rural areas.”
Mohammed has followed in his father’s footsteps in modifying bikes for people with disabilities. He also explained that he gets his inspiration from his father who started the helpful business back in 1975.
Mohammed ended with, “My inspiration is my father. Since I was 12 years old, I used to spend more and more time with my father in the garage, learning how to modify vehicles. He used to modify vehicles to make the life of poor and disabled persons easier so that they can be independent. Though my father is no more with me, I wanted to take his dreams forward.”
