Puducherry upgrades emergency medical services
According to a press note, the crucial upgrade of the 108 Command Centre is the result of a collaborative initiative between the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Puducherry, JIPMER and ICMR through the INDIA-EMS study, which operates as an National Health Research Priority Project (NHRP) aimed at developing advanced emergency care systems nation-wide.
The INDIA-EMS team along with State officials developed a Smart Ambulance Dispatch System. This unique, indigenously-developed application is specifically designed to improve both the quality of on-site care and en-route care (Pre-Hospital Care) for patients across Puducherry. The new system is expected to facilitate faster response times and more efficient management of emergency medical situations.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who also holds the Health portfolio, formally commissioned the upgraded facility and reaffirmed the government's commitment towards ensuring accessible and high-quality healthcare for all sections of the Puducherry population. He also distributed smartphones for drivers, tabs for technicians and raincoats for both personnel.
Jayanta Kumar Ray, Health Secretary, emphasised the imperative of prehospital care and the importance of control room to ensure that the golden-hour criteria was achieved by advanced response systems and ambulance support.
V. Ravichandran, Director of Health, underlined the critical role of a technologically-advanced command centre in saving lives and improving patient outcomes during emergencies.
Vir Singh Negi, Jipmer Director, S.Govindarajan, Mission Director (NHM) and Ragunathan, deputy director (IEC) participated.
Meenakshi Sharma, Scientist-G from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, who joined the event in virtual mode, commended the Puducherry government and the INDIA-EMS team for the initiative, which represented 'a significant step towards utilising indigenous innovation to enhance emergency medical care delivery.'
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