Some cities have facility; its absence was felt after GB blast.
Amongst a flurry of promises made post German Bakery (GB) blast, an important agenda on city’s wish list of need for a centralised helpline to link all ambulance, hospital services seems to be forgotten.
While cities like Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad already have a centralised helpline number for ambulance services to direct casualties to nearest hospitals during emergencies, the lack of such a facility was acutely felt during rescue operations post GB blast.
A helpline was promised but never delivered despite many meetings between hospital representatives and civic as well as state officials.
Ganesh Sonune, in charge of disaster management cell at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said that proposal to start a three digit helpline number for emergency medical services is in the offing.
“It will start soon and will be link public and private ambulance service providers. Calls will go to helpline and nearest ambulance will be directed to victims using global positioning relay method (GPRS) technology in ambulances,’’ he said.
While promises continue to be made, emergency medical service (EMS) experts ask what is taking the government so long in fulfilling basic and long pending demand for city’s critical care. In fact, professional bodies like Indian Medical Association (IMA) say they have repeatedly taking up subject with government authorities post GB blast but to no avail. “We don’t know the status of project though we have demanded this several times. The golden hour concept to save lives in trauma cannot be made a reality unless this link is established with all private and public ambulances. IMA has been organising seminars on disaster management and engaging EMS experts and government officials on this subject hoping to get some results,’’ said Dr Ambarish Shahade, president of IMA.
EMS expert Dr Narendra Vaidya said while state government’s proposal to introduce 108 as centralised helpline is in process, the civic body too must make efforts to start a government operated number.
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