Trauma centre on Shimla NH, when?

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 21

The proposal to construct a trauma centre on the accident-prone Kalka-Shimla National Highway (NH) 05 has been hanging fire for the past several years.

The first proposal was mooted during the BJP tenure in the state in 2002. At that time, an exhaustive exercise was undertaken to identify the location and work out its nitty-gritty, but the project failed to materialise.

Another announcement to open such a centre was then made during the UPA-II by the then Union Minister for State for Health and Family Welfare. The centre was supposed to be set up at Dharampur — a key point on the highway. But again nothing happened.

And now with the process of the four-laning of the highway, the issue has again assumed centre stage. The number of fatal accidents of late has witnessed a sharp increase due to frequent rolling down of debris and boulders on the road.

Accident victims are taken to the Community Health Centre for first aid. However, due to the lack of facilities there, they are referred either to the Solan-based Regional Hospital or the MMU Medical College and Hospital, located at a distance of at least 15 km.

Chief Executive Officer Mehul Sukumaran said it was the need of the hour to set up a trauma centre at Parwanoo and an emergency care centre at Dharampur. A proposal pertaining to this had also been mooted.

He said government hospital staff lacked emergency handling skills and they should undergo an advanced training, so that the continuum of care could be provided to the accident victims and that, too, of the most advanced level at the nearest appropriate hospital without necessitating the shifting of patients to far-off medical institutions.

Why the need

• The number of fatal accidents has witnessed a sharp increase due to frequent rolling down of debris and boulders
• Accident victims are taken to the Community Health Centre for first-aid. However, due to the lack of facilities there, they are referred either to the Solan-based Regional Hospital or the MMU Medical College and Hospital, located at a distance of at least 15 km
• On July 14, heavy rains caused a multi-storey building to collapse (in pic) on Kumarhatti-Nahan road, which claimed 14 lives, including that of 13 defence personnel

Proposed in 2002

• A trauma centre on the accident-prone Kalka-Shimla National Highway was first proposed during the BJP tenure in the state in 2002. At that time, an exhaustive exercise was undertaken to identify the location and work out its nitty-gritty, but the project failed to materialise.
• Another announcement to open such a centre was then made during the UPA-II by the then Union Minister for State for Health and Family Welfare. The centre was supposed to be set up at Dharampur — a key point on the highway. But again nothing happened.
• Now, with the process of the four-laning of the highway, the issue has once again assumed centre stage. The number of fatal accidents has witnessed a sharp increase of late due to frequent falling of debris and boulders.