Maha considering sprucing up emergency medical service system

Maharashtra Government's Health Department has responded positively to a proposal by a senior Indian-American doctor to improve the emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma care (TC) system in the metropolis.

“Top officials in Mantralaya and the health department have appreciated the model developed by me, based on my experience with the US health system,” said Maryland-based Dr Navin Shah, who was on a brief visit here. The system, as contemplated by Shah, brings together 24 Mumbai hospitals. "I have been informed by state Health Secretary Bhushan Gagrani that Maharashtra Government has floated a bid for EMS set-up, and intends to appoint a service provider-cum-turnkey operator to operationalise the EMS in the state, with a universal three digits call number," he said.

The state government wants to implement the system all over Maharashtra, according to Shah. Once the service provider is finalised, the government would like to work out the training strategy with the help of American College of Surgeons.

Dr Shah is currently Medical Education Director, Maryland. He is also co-founder and past president of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. According to Shah, India has one of the highest mortality rates in accidents, at around 350,000 deaths per year.

"We will have a full support from the American College of Surgeons-Trauma Director, Dr Wayne Meredith, who has offered one fully paid scholarship to invite a Mumbai surgeon for a week's training in the US," Shah said.