India, May 21 -- Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) researchers have found that sustained investments in emergency medical services (EMS) and maternal healthcare not only offset the severe disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but also led to significantly improved maternal and newborn health outcomes in Tamil Nadu during the post-pandemic period.

The study analysed eight years of real-world ambulance registry data (2017-2024) from Tamil Nadu's 108 emergency response system. The research examined how the state's healthcare system performed across multiple pandemic phases and into the resilient recovery period of 2023-2024.

With data spanning 42 districts and a population of over 84 million, the study provides an un...