Health Ministry to set up 24x7 control & command centre

In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the Union Health Ministry on Friday conducted a high-level meeting to review emergency health systems preparedness.

The officials apprised Union Health Minister JP Nadda about the current status of medical preparedness for handling emergency cases. He was briefed about the actions taken regarding deployment of ambulances, ensuring adequate availability of medical supplies including equipment, medicines, supply of blood vials and consumables, hospital readiness in terms of beds, ICU and HDU, deployment of BHISHM Cubes and advanced mobile trauma care units among all.

Nadda directed that a 24x7 control and command centre in the ministry should monitor ongoing efforts.

Hospitals and medical institutions have been advised to ensure availability of essential drugs, adequate supply of blood, oxygen and trauma care kits.

“AIIMS, New Delhi, and other central government hospitals have mobilised doctors and nurses with supplies for ready deployment. They have been advised to coordinate with state and district administration, armed forces and regional associations of doctors, nurses, paramedics, private sector hospitals, charitable institutions etc., to strengthen the emergency response networks in a collaborative manner,” the statement of health ministry said.

Additionally, nationwide mock drills for disaster preparedness have been conducted at AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and other premier hospitals. “For capacity building in emergency healthcare, additional training modules for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid and basic life support are being rolled out with support from Indian Red Cross Society, National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW), AIIMS, New Delhi, and iGOT,” ministry said.

Nadda has directed to ensure that all medical emergency response health systems be adequately equipped and functional at all times. He also directed to ensure that ground level linkages with all state governments particularly at the district levels, especially border states, be effectively established to ensure immediate emergency healthcare, if required.

Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Bihar, Gujarat and Telangana are some of the states where leave of health officials have been cancelled.