International Road Federation (IRF) , Geneva based Global Road Safety body working for better and safer roads worldwide in a letter written to the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has urged him to restore normal trauma services at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNAT) which is part of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the National Capital Delhi.
With the Covid cases increasing the Jai Prakash Apex Trauma Centre (JPNAT) was once again recently reconverted to COVID Facility for the second time and the Trauma Services were shifted to Main AIIMS Hospital with a make-shift Trauma Emergency Department .
“The Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre associated with AIIMS is one of only two level-1 trauma centres — a centre equipped to provide the highest level of care to the critically injured — in North India .Country accounts for one of the highest number of road fatalities and injuries in the world .The conversion of trauma centre cuts availability of beds, ICU, and operation theatres for trauma patients in need of urgent interventions. “ said Mr K K Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation (IRF) in a letter to the minister .
“India accounts for about 1.5 lakh road accident deaths per year , the highest in the world with more than 4.25 lakh Injuries/ Trauma in India annually, most of them are in the young age group of 18-40 (about 70%), therefore tremendous loss of Productive years of lives lost. Moreover, Trauma causes very high in-hospital mortality (15-30%) as well as irreparable disabilities to the victim.” Said Mr K K Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation (IRF) in his letter to the Union Health Minister .
“The JPNAT trauma centre has been the only facility in the country providing 24×7 quality patient care with all specialties catering to injured patients.The Centre also catered to complicated trauma victims referred from other hospitals, patients from central armed police forces injured in action, patients of mass and multiple casualty incidents,” Kapila said.
“It is also interesting to note that 95% of the current admissions at AIIMS COVID facility (JPN Trauma Centre) are not cases of COVID pneumonia or COVID related disease, they are rather cases of different specialties (like Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Cancer, etc.) who have tested positive on routine COVID-19 testing prior to their admission/ surgery/ procedure. This is causing unnecessary confusion as the treating specialists have to post additional manpower at Trauma Care COVID facility to manage their patients, moreover the infrastructure needed for such specialist care is also not available at the Trauma Care COVID facility.” Said Mr Kapila.
“The reconversion of the Trauma centre to Covid facility was absolutely uncalled for and unwarranted. The life of an accident victim is equally precious as of a COVID patient for which there are sufficient facilities. As the COVID-19 in Delhi and North India are going down and hospital/ICU bed occupancy to COVID is at an all time low. As such, the Trauma centre services should be immediately fully restored at JPNT trauma centre “ said Mr Kapila.
