INTRODUCTION

A ‘National Workshop on Highway Accidents & Emergency Medical Management’ which was organised at the India International Centre, New Delhi on 28th Feb, 2020 by the Policy Perspectives Foundation (PPF) in association with Ministry of Health &Family Welfare and Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways was attended by technocrats, doctors and professional from relevant fields. During the deliberations it was impressed that a mission mode approach is called for to reduce fatalities in road accidents as per the UN Sustainable goal target. It was mentioned that trauma care or emergency care is one of the most important pillars of road safety plan as nearly 80 percent of road accidents death happen within the first hour of the injury. This is the time when prompt and efficient medical care has the highest likelihood of preventing death. As such, capacity building of all stakeholders in emergency response system is important. It was also mentioned that Indian trauma system is grappling with critical gaps. There is no legislation to govern establishment and functioning of the trauma system. It was suggested that a lead agency driving a trauma system including emergency medical care and ensuring coordination and collaboration between its various agency is pivotal. It was suggested that the solution to reduction of number of road accident deaths depends on inter-sectoral collaboration and it should be devised based on participation of different stakeholders namely, MoRTH, MoHFW, NDMA, civil society and community. In course of deliberations a number of relevant suggestions were made. These include all highways fo have inbuilt fatality-resilient measures right from the planning stage by earmarking a certain percentage (5-10%) of the project cost to ensure integrated seamless emergency medical measures for the accident victims within the golden hour. Installation of vandal-proof emergency call boxes for prompt communication of accident related information to EMS Ambulances and designated road side hospitals and other agencies preferably at a distance of around 250 to 500 mtrs alongside the highways. Village level community health care centres to be made self-sufficient with EMS facilities with tel- communication links to the nearest hospital/ trauma care centre. A network of designated hospitals under Public-Private partnership model to be developed along the highways. These hospitals should preferably be within a range of 15-20 kms or longer if the access road to the highway is not in good condition. All new vehicles may mandatorily have GPS based crash communication device linked to designated control centres. Two-wheeler ambulances with miniaturised medical equipment may be introduced in accident prone zones along the highways. Effective highway patrolling may be introduced for enforcement of traffic laws, including lane driving and adherence to speed limit through CC TV cameras.

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Background

PPF along with Min of Health & Family and Min of Road Transport & Highways organised a ‘National Workshop on Highway Accidents & Emergency Medical Management’ at IIC, New Delhi on 28th Feb, 2020.