A traumatic story

CAG criticises U'khand govt on non-functioning trauma centre::

A trauma care unit in Uttarakhand set up to provide life-saving treatment to victims of road accidents remains non-functional even after being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.49 crore, defeating the purpose for which it was built, a recent CAG report has said. Due to non-functioning of the trauma unit in the accident-prone Gopeshear town of Chamoli district, 1,072 accident victims had to be referred to considerably distant places like Srinagar town in the state, which is a 4 hour-drive away, and Dehra Dun, a 7 hour-drive away, putting them at high risk, said the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The construction of the trauma care unit took more than 3 years against the stipulated time of one year due to inability of the health department in handing over land to the state's Peyjal Nigam, the executing agency, and then the slow progress of work by it.

The proposal for creation of 23 posts, including those of a Neuro Surgeon and an Orthopaedic surgeon, was also awaiting approval from the Director General Health as on March 2009, the report said. The Centre had provided financial assistance of Rs 1.50 crore to the Uttarakhand government in 2004 for upgradation and strengthening of emergency facilities in government hospitals located on national highways. In 2005, the state government released Rs 58.60 lakh for construction of the trauma centre in Gopeshwar and Rs 90 lakh for purchase of equipment. However, the CAG report stated that the trauma care unit lacked critical infrastructure for emergencies, such as CAT scan to diagnose head injuries, a diagnostic laboratory and intensive care unit for critical victims among various other facilities. The procurement of equipment was still in process till July 2009. The two available ambulances for shifting patients were not provided with life-saving equipment. The control room and communication system to facilitate quick release of information regarding accidents and other major emergencies was not established, the report said. "Due to the apparent debilities, the trauma care unit could not be made functional, yet it was inaugurated by the Chief Minister for public use in February 2009," the report said. It said the CMS of the hospital had admitted that the trauma care unit could not be made operational and accident cases were being referred to Srinagar town and Dehra Dun.

"The delayed construction of the trauma care unit without specialist care defeated the very purpose of providing immediate treatment to victims within the first hour of the accident, crucial in saving their lives," the report said.