Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine (JIAFM)

(v)
JIAFM, 2007 29 (2) ISSN: 0971-0973
Editorial
Emergency Medical Care System: A Human Rights Issue
According to World Bank and a WHO report, more than 1.2 million people die in accidents
globally every year, of which 92000 die in India. Four lakh accidents were reported in India in
2004.
The expert group to study the existing system for Emergency Medical Care was constituted by
NHRC on 23 April 2003 in the light of the inadequacies highlighted in the Uphar Cinema
Tragedy and the ever-increasing number of accidents especially on the road.
The group was asked to look into the following:
(i) To study the existing system, for emergency medical care in India.
(ii) To study the existing system for Emergency Medical Care (Centralized Accidents &
Trauma Services) set up by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the National
Capital Territory of Delhi.
(iii) To suggest appropriate models of Emergency Medical Care which should be developed
by different States/Union Territories and their essential components.
The group of experts headed by Dr. P.K. Dave, former Director, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences constituted by NHRC to study the existing system for emergency medical care
submitted its report to the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand in New Delhi on April 7,
2004. While pointing out a number of deficiencies in the existing Emergency Medical Care
System (EMCS) of the country, it has suggested a number of short-term and long-term
measures to address the lacunae. The report will now be sent to the Government.
Short-Term Measures:
The recommendations that have to be implemented immediately include:
1. Enunciation of, a National Accident Policy.
2. Establishment of, a central coordinating, facilitating, monitoring and controlling
committee for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) under the aegis of Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare as advocated in the National Accident Policy.
3. Designating 3-4 districts to Medical Colleges, which will act as referral centers to their
respective earmarked districts in each State and UT.
4. Establishment of Centralized Accident and Trauma Services in all districts of all States
and various Union Territories along with strengthening infrastructure, pre-hospital care
at all government and private hospitals.
5. Development of computerized information base at all levels of health care to help in
perspective policy planning and networking.
6. Need to establish a National Trauma Registry for data collection and analysis.
7. Information dissemination to all of the existing facilities, legislations, referral system,
existing networking, to facilitate EMS health care utilization.
8. States to develop proposals for up-gradation of EMS with organizational infrastructure
and financial details for appraisal by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Planning
Commission.
9. Training in EMS to be organized in the Medical Colleges and other regional areas.
10. The existing expert group constituted by the NHRC will further recommend the
infrastructure facilities, equipment, staffing and training at various levels of healthcare
delivery viz. primary health centers, sub-district / taluka hospitals, district hospitals,
medical colleges and teaching institutions.