Having ready access to emergency care is probably something many of us in the western world take for granted, but the World Health Organization say that a lack of access to timely care is a bigger cause of death than the likes of Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

In developing countries it is a problem that afflicts millions of people.  How much of a difference can mobile make?  That’s a question that a new startup, called MUrgency are hoping to answer.

A distributed emergency response network

They have developed a cloud based platform and a mobile app that they hope will provide users with access to an emergency response network from the comfort of their smartphone.

“It is well known that timely medical assistance is the most critical factor in saving lives. Unfortunately, it is not readily available to 90 percent of world’s population. At MUrgency, it is our mission to make fast emergency medical assistance available across the world by 2020 with just the tap on your phone,” the founders say.

The platform consists of a network of doctors, nurses, Red Cross volunteers, paramedics and so on, all of whom have agreed to provide real-time support when called upon.

Users tap the Murgency button their phone and the app will locate the nearest available first responder, or even to send out alerts to other people in their network, such as friends or relatives who can offer their own assistance.

How the app works

On the supply side of the platform, MUrgency aggregate existing emergency responder resources in a region, including doctors, nurses and ambulances.  It then validates their credentials and adds them to the network.

The demand side then allows users to tap into this network with a simple click of the app.  Each time the button is pressed, the GPS location of the user is sent to the emergency services and any friends or relatives that the user has setup as an emergency contact.

In addition to this matchmaking type service, there is also a nice safety feature built in whereby a ‘virtual bodyguard’ can help lone users navigate through situations via a range of remote chat options.

Initial availability

Whilst the developers plan to have a global network setup by 2020, it will initially be rolled out in specific regions, with Punjab in India the first to receive coverage.

It’s certainly an interesting approach and an experiment that will be worth following with interest.  The problem is undoubtedly a significant one.  Will MUrgency provide part of the solution?  Time will tell.

The app is available for free on both Google Play and the App Store.