How AI and mixed-reality technology is shaping pre-hospital emergency response in Sri Lanka

Well-integrated and high-quality pre-hospital emergency care can significantly impact health outcomes, by preventing complications, and in many cases, reducing morbidity and mortality. Pre-hospital ambulance services are among the most important components of emergency healthcare but are often less prioritized and fragmented in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to resource constraints, inadequate road and human infrastructure, and competing priorities within healthcare systems.  The ‘Golden Hour’ (i.e., the first hour after injury) is extremely important, as most deaths from heart attacks, strokes, and various other time-sensitive illnesses are known to occur during this period. This is why organized and efficient pre-hospital care is crucial for stabilizing patients before reaching a healthcare facility. Sri Lanka’s AI-powered ‘1990 Suwa Seriya’, an islandwide free ambulance service, addresses this critical gap in pre-hospital emergency care by significantly reducing average response times, enhancing access to pre-hospital care, and improving connectivity between emergency care services and primary health facilities. 

Suwa Seriya’s new initiative, ‘Connected Ambulance’, launched in 2023, elevates pre-hospital emergency care efficiency by integrating advanced technological innovations, becoming the first to do so in Asia. With Mediwave, the digital healthcare arm of Wavenet Telecomms – a Singapore-based technology solutions provider – as its technology partner, Suwa Seriya will establish a fully connected platform. This technology will connect the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Emergency Physician at the Emergency Command and Control Centre (ECCC) with the existing Emergency Dispatch Management system and the rest of the Operations Management System at 1990 Suwa Seriya.  Integrating Mediwave’s AI and Mixed Reality solutions into Suwa Seriya will transform Sri Lanka’s pre-hospital emergency care ecosystem by digitizing critical processes, ensuring swift response times, and delivering specialized care remotely through the latest Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities. For example, when a medical emergency is reported to a 1990 ECCC, the EMT dispatched in the connected ambulance may use a Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality headset. This allows the EMTs to remotely connect with Physicians at ECCC, monitor vital signs such as ECG and blood pressure, and provide necessary care before reaching the hospital. Mediwave’s system also uses a speech-to-text AI-powered transcriber to digitize patient records, helping to eliminate delays in the emergency treatment units and potential human errors. Suwa Seriya’s ambulances, equipped with this cutting-edge technology, achieve an average response time of 11 minutes and 38 seconds, exceeding benchmarks set by some developed countries. 

Suwa Seriya is a prime example of successful domestic innovation and regional financing coming out of the Global South. The service was initially launched with a US$23 million grant from India, and developed by Sri Lanka’s software development community, and is now fully owned by Sri Lanka. The success of Suwa Seriya demonstrates how ownership can foster homegrown solutions that effectively meet the needs of the population and pave the way for replicable solutions that can inspire similar achievements elsewhere.