BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI : Noting that 40 per cent of total road accident deaths happen on the national highways, I K Pandey, Special Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said that trauma care facilities will be provided at all toll plazas as well as extended to highways to ensure prompt treatment of accident victims.

He was speaking at a Road Safety program on the theme ‘Trauma Care - A National Mission’ organized by FICCI in New Delhi.

Mr Pandey said, “Trauma care is not given much importance in our country as compared to other countries.”

He added that we need to adopt the procedures of faster turnaround in case of any road accident as prevalent in many developed countries.

Newly appointed DG, Union Health Ministry, Dr Rajiv Garg, said that improvement in trauma care can bring in significant change in road traffic mortality and disability, and reduce road related diseases.

Dr Garg pointed out, “The Health Ministry understands an urgent need for manpower training in post-crash trauma care. The training of by-standers with first aid skills will encourage them to help the road accident victims and allay the anxiety of police prosecution which acts as a barrier to effective by-stander response.”

Ms Payden, Deputy WHO Representative to India, stated that there is a need to create a network of all ambulances in India with one number so that support and patient care becomes much faster. This will also allow police ambulances to reach the accident spot on time within the golden hour, she added.