Cabinet considering proposal on Emergency Trauma Care Programme

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) In view of the increasing number of deaths and disabilities caused due to road accidents in the country, the Union Cabinet is considering a Rs 1100 crore proposal on Emergency and Trauma Care Programme and building infrastructure along the highways.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters here today that the proposal was sent by his ministry to the Cabinet for clearance.

Under the programme, at every five km, a phone would be put in place and every 50 km, an ambulance. A Trauma Care Centre would be set up at every 100 km, a Speciality Trauma Centre at every 300 km and a Super Speciality Trauma Care Centre every 500 km along highways.

Moreover, a Rs 1500 crore proposal has been prepared which would run on a public private partnership basis with Satyam Computers for providing ambulances and call centres along the highways. This would would help road accident victims reach the trauma centres, he said.

The proposed network of trauma centres and ambulances would help to reduce the present high rate of road accident deaths of Rs 160,000 per year and 600,000 people disabled due to accidents annually, the minister said. Apart from road accident victims, these centres would also cater to the needs of people suffering from other problems, he added.

Meanwhile, the government is also planning to amend the Act regulating organ transplants in the country to promote cadaver transplants. Pointing out that only 0.1 per cent of all transplants in the country take place from cadaver, the minister said by creating more awareness, cadaver donations from road accident victims could be increased.

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