Who'll pay for private medicare, ask railways

Commuters who fall from or are run over by trains will have a better chance of surviving if the victim is shifted to the nearest hospital, instead of being transported to the nearest government or civic hospital.

But railway police and administration are worried about who would foot the bill of the victims.

“A commuter who meets with an accident at Virar has to be transported to the nearest hospital. But we have reported cases where the victim is brought all the way to Bhagwati Hospital, Borivli. By then the victim loses crucial time,’’ said activist Sameer Zaveri.

It is important to medically attend an accident victim immediately after a serious injury in the “golden hour” (within one hour of the accident) which can save him.

 “The railway police are on deputation to the railways. Shifting the patient to nearest hospital will lead to problems of footing the bill,” said a police official.

“There needs to be a mechanism in place. Letters and circulars are issued immediately directing junior officials to do this. But there is no practical method in implementing this,’’ he said.