Addressing lacunae in the Emergency Medical Care Services in India
Trauma has been dubbed "the forgotten epidemic" and the "neglected disease of modern society". It kills and maims hundreds of thousands of individuals annually and costs society billions of dollars through direct expenditure and indirect losses.
The situation is especially worrisome in India where thousands of people die annually in road traffic accidents for want of proper trauma care facilities. Provision of emergency medical care for trauma related emergencies is of utmost importance in saving the lives of accident victims.
In the light of the Upahar Cinema Tragedy, the Commission decided to set up an expert group on Emergency Medical Care Services -- the main purpose being to study the existing system of emergency medical care and to suggest improvements.
The group of experts headed by Dr. P.K. Dave, former Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences submitted its report to the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand in New Delhi on 7 April 2004, coinciding with World Health Day.
While pointing out a number of deficiencies in the existing Emergency Medical Care System (EMS) of the country, it has suggested a number of short-term and long-term measures to address the lacunae.
Short-term Measures to be undertaken within one year.
· Need to enunciate a National Accident Policy
· Establish a central coordinating, facilitating, monitoring and controlling committee for EMS under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
· Designate 3-4 districts for attachment to Medical colleges, which will act as referral centers in each state and UT.
· Need for establishment of Centralized Accident and Trauma Services in all districts of all the States and Union territories in the country.
· Develop a computerized information base at all levels of health care to help in perspective policy planning and networking.
· Government could set-up a National Trauma Registry for data collection and analysis.
· Information dissemination to all of the existing facilities for EMS health care utilization.
· States develop proposals for up-gradation of EMS.
· Training in EMS be organized in the Medical Colleges and other regional areas.
Long-term measures that need to be taken up within 5 years.
· Implementation of the proposed recommendations of the National Accident Policy.
· Setting-up a well-equipped trauma centre with trained staff at the Regional and National level.
· All District Hospitals should have specialized multidisciplinary trauma care facilities.
· Establishment of Emergency Medicine as a speciality.
· Dedicated communication toll free number to respond in case of emergency, which should be common for the entire nation.
· A communication call center as well as an ambulance equipped and staffed to be stationed every 30 Kms on the Golden Quadrangular Road Project. Emergency care centres manned by paramedical staff should be established every 50 kms. All the National Highways should also have the same facilities.
The situation is especially worrisome in India where thousands of people die annually in road traffic accidents for want of proper trauma care facilities. Provision of emergency medical care for trauma related emergencies is of utmost importance in saving the lives of accident victims.
In the light of the Upahar Cinema Tragedy, the Commission decided to set up an expert group on Emergency Medical Care Services -- the main purpose being to study the existing system of emergency medical care and to suggest improvements.
The group of experts headed by Dr. P.K. Dave, former Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences submitted its report to the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand in New Delhi on 7 April 2004, coinciding with World Health Day.
While pointing out a number of deficiencies in the existing Emergency Medical Care System (EMS) of the country, it has suggested a number of short-term and long-term measures to address the lacunae.
Short-term Measures to be undertaken within one year.
· Need to enunciate a National Accident Policy
· Establish a central coordinating, facilitating, monitoring and controlling committee for EMS under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
· Designate 3-4 districts for attachment to Medical colleges, which will act as referral centers in each state and UT.
· Need for establishment of Centralized Accident and Trauma Services in all districts of all the States and Union territories in the country.
· Develop a computerized information base at all levels of health care to help in perspective policy planning and networking.
· Government could set-up a National Trauma Registry for data collection and analysis.
· Information dissemination to all of the existing facilities for EMS health care utilization.
· States develop proposals for up-gradation of EMS.
· Training in EMS be organized in the Medical Colleges and other regional areas.
Long-term measures that need to be taken up within 5 years.
· Implementation of the proposed recommendations of the National Accident Policy.
· Setting-up a well-equipped trauma centre with trained staff at the Regional and National level.
· All District Hospitals should have specialized multidisciplinary trauma care facilities.
· Establishment of Emergency Medicine as a speciality.
· Dedicated communication toll free number to respond in case of emergency, which should be common for the entire nation.
· A communication call center as well as an ambulance equipped and staffed to be stationed every 30 Kms on the Golden Quadrangular Road Project. Emergency care centres manned by paramedical staff should be established every 50 kms. All the National Highways should also have the same facilities.