GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, OCT 6
Stating that India faces a staggering trauma burden, with one trauma-related death occurring every 1.9 minutes, timely trauma care during of the golden hour, i.e. the first 60 minutes following a traumatic injury, can save 85 percent of the victims, Apollo Hospitals has organized a two-day masterclass for over 350 medical practitioners, including students.
Road accident injuries are the leading cause of these deaths. Despite having just 1% of the world’s motorised vehicles, India contributes 11% of the world’s automobile accidents. The World Bank estimates there are around 4.5 lakh road accidents in India per year, resulting in 1.5 lakh deaths. In this situation, timely trauma care is of utmost criticality.
- At Apollo, we follow gold-standard protocols for trauma care that include airway protection, rapid haemorrhage control, critical cavity decompression, early stabilisation of fractures and intensive monitoring of vital organs: Neeraj Lal, COO, Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad
- Apollo Trauma Masterclass shares insights into trauma care, latest approaches
- Pilot project to give free treatment worth Rs 1.5 lakh to road accident victims for 7 days from date of accident
- Our priority will be to ensure timely treatment for patients in emergency conditions: Gujarat Govt
Experts highlighted that immediate medical intervention within this timeframe significantly improves survival rates in trauma cases.
To address this issue, the Apollo Trauma Masterclass 2024, organised by Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, brought together leading experts in trauma care to address critical issues, shared insights and discuss cutting-edge approaches to improving trauma management and emergency response.
Speaking with this correspondent, Neeraj Lal, COO, Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, said, “Timely treatment can be the difference between life and death for trauma victims. It is important that medical professionals across the board are equipped to act at short notice to save lives. The Apollo Trauma Masterclass aimed to share the latest insights and approaches into trauma care that can save lives with the participants.”
Dr. Sanjay Shah, Senior Consultant Trauma Surgeon and Head of the Emergency Department at Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, said, “The management of severely injured patients remains a challenge, especially in a high volume trauma country like ours. At Apollo, we follow gold-standard protocols for trauma care that include airway protection, rapid haemorrhage control, critical cavity decompression, early stabilisation of fractures and intensive monitoring of vital organs. The Apollo Trauma Masterclass is designed to reinforce these practices and ensure consistency in delivering world-class trauma care.”
When asked whether the Gujarat Government is bearing the cost of treatment for accident victims, Dr Sanjay Shah said, “Gujarat Government is paying Rs 50,000 to meet the stabilization cost of road accident victims. Under the newly enacted Good Samaritan Act, whoever helps the road accident victims to reach the hospital in the 108 ambulance or their personal vehicles during the golden hour will not be harassed by the long arm of law. Instead they will be honoured by the authorities as well as the hospitals.”
GSRTC driver’s presence of mind has saved a precious life
Throwing light on an incident, Dr Shah said, “One of the GSRTC driver had brought a victim by bus to the Apollo Hospital in Gandhinagar despite carrying many passengers. The driver’s presence of mind has saved a precious life. In appreciation of his humanitarian act, we have felicitated him and also recommended to the state government to honour him.”
Sharing more on how Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad is improving trauma care outcomes, Dr. Piyasha Nath Sen, Joint Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad said “ At Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad we follow comprehensive connected care services for trauma care. We have the best trauma surgeons in our facility who can perform cutting edge procedures”.
The Apollo Trauma Masterclass, organised on Saturday and Sunday, also provided a detailed overview of the different levels of trauma centres. Level 1 trauma centres, like Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, provide the most comprehensive care for complex injuries. They have emergency physicians, nurses, and surgeons available 24/7, including all major subspecialty services with academics. Level II trauma centres provide definitive care for severe trauma patients.
Pilot project to give free treatment worth Rs 1.5 lakh to road accident victims
Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), now road accident victims will get a free treatment worth Rs 1.5 lakh.
The Road Transport Ministry has formulated a scheme and initiated implementation on pilot basis in Chandigarh and Assam to provide cashless treatment to victims of road accidents caused by use of motor vehicle, on any category of road, in collaboration with National Health Authority (NHA), Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha in August this year.
Free treatment facility to be available for 7 days from date of accident
“Under this scheme, the eligible victims are administered Health Benefit Packages relating to trauma and polytrauma care at empanelled hospitals under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh for a maximum period of 7 days from date of accident,” a PIB release said citing the minister’s reply.
Incidentally, Tamil Nadu Government bears the entire cost of treatment for road accident victims, while Punjab & NCR Governments pay Rs 1.5 lakh, Rajasthan and Karnataka have also followed suit.
Our priority will be to ensure timely treatment for patients in emergency conditions: Gujarat Govt
Claiming that 85 per cent of the road accident victims’ can be saved if the treatment is given during the golden hour, the first hour immediately after the accident, all government-run hospitals and medical colleges have been instructed to streamline emergency, trauma and child delivery patient care in Gujarat.
“To ensure timely treatment for patients in emergency conditions, all are instructed not to waste any time on registration or or administrative procedures and to start emergency treatment immediately.
Their priority will be to ensure the stabilisation of the patients,” Harshad Patel, health commissioner, Gujarat, said on Saturday.
