Government orders 24x7 control and command centre to monitor health infra amid India-Pak conflict

NEW DELHI: The govt on Friday directed states/UTs to ensure that all medical emergency response health systems are adequately equipped and functional to deal with any potential medical emergency in view of the ongoing conflict with Pakistan.

Directions were also issued to officials in the health ministry to establish a 24x7 control and command centre to monitor ongoing efforts and support states.

Since India launched ‘ Operation Sindoor ’ on Wednesday to target terror camps across Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, there have been attacks on districts sharing the border with the neighbouring nation causing loss of lives and injuries to many soldiers and civilians.

If the conflict escalates further, the number of injured may go up and thus the need for immediate medical care. “The health ministry is closely monitoring the situation and remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services and emergency response across all regions,” union health minister J P Nadda said. The health minister held a review meeting on emergency health systems preparedness in New Delhi which was participated by top govt officials, from the centre and the states/UTs. Sources in the govt said the status of medical preparedness for handling emergency cases was presented to him.

Nadda was also apprised of 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 (mobile hospital prototype that was developed in India in the aftermath of the pandemic and Ukraine-Russia), advanced mobile trauma care units etc. “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 officials said.

For capacity building in emergency healthcare , the officials added, training modules for Cardio-Pulmonary 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) and AIIMS New Delhi among others. Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava apprised about a series of her meetings with states/UTs, and central government hospitals and healthcare institutes for seamless coordination with relevant stakeholders at the centre and within the states for ensuring effective response.

Govt sources said BHISHM cubes are being deployed at AIIMS Jammu and SKIMS Srinagar near India's border to bolster medical readiness. These BHISHM cubes are also being stationed in other Institutes of National Importance (INIs) across India, including AIIMS in Rishikesh, Bilaspur and Delhi, they said.

BHISHM cubes consist of more than 200 boxes/cubes of medical equipment – that can be made used to create a functional medical set up at any spot within 10 minutes. The prototype of this set up was displayed recently at the G20 summit in Gandhinagar. Officials said the prototype has enough medicines and equipment to provide emergency medical aid to more than 200 persons affected in any disaster situation. “One of the biggest causes for loss of lives in any disaster situation is delayed medical intervention. This mobile hospital unit can help the health specialists or even trained manpower perform blood tests and take x-rays for preliminary diagnosis for medical intervention. It will also have the facility to conduct minor operations, for example removing a portion of the skull to relieve pressure on the underlying brain in case of a head injury,” officials said.