Appoints ICMR to investigate gaps and improve golden-hour response to post-crash victims
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to review the existing facilities for road accident emergency care in the health system in both urban and rural areas. A policy on prevention, intervention and emergency treatment of Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) will be formulated based on the studies.
Director General, ICMR, and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Soumya Swaminathan said, “At present, no reliable data on RTI is available. There’s a need to ascertain the actual numbers and review gaps in the healthcare system to address RTI, if we need an effective solution. We will be submitting a comprehensive report to the Union Health Ministry, once the study is complete.”
The Centre is keen to implement the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on integrating injury prevention and safety promotion activities into public health programmes and policies.
“The objectives of the ICMR research is to document the existing system of RTI surveillance at national and sub-national levels and identify facilitators and barriers in providing post-crash emergency treatment within the ‘golden hour’ (early rescue). As per the findings, appropriate interventions to improve the post-crash care will be formulated and also put to test,” said Dr Swaminathan.
For a critical appraisal of the issue, the ICMR has invited proposal from researchers. “For the best outcome, we have invited both, community-based and facility-based studies, along with multidisciplinary teams,” she said.
RTIs are the ninth leading cause of death globally, and the leading cause of death in the age group of 15-29. According to the WHO, more than two lakh persons in India died in road accidents in 2013. This estimate is based on data received through police network with a possible underestimation.
Experts argue that improving post-crash medical response to maximise ‘golden hour’, can help reduce these figures and severity of injuries, too.
“Health system’s response to post-crash emergencies need to be improved. One of the pillars of action for road safety is to develop appropriate post-crash response that is affordable considering societal equity issues,” said Dr Swaminathan.
A recent study published by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi under the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme, also revealed discrepancies in the 2013 figures of deaths categorised as per road users in WHO tabulations and police reports.
While WHO figures reported that only nine per cent of deaths in 2013 were pedestrians, FIRs pegged the figure at 21 per cent. Similarly, as per official tabulations, 37 per cent were riders of motorised two wheelers, and as per FIRs, the figure was 49 per cent.
OBJECTIVES OF ICMR RESEARCH
- Document the existing system of RTI surveillance at national and sub-national levels
- Identify the facilitators and barriers in post-crash emergency treatment within the golden hour
- Develop appropriate and feasible interventions and test them
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Road accident")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}