Health workers sensitised on ensuring timely medical help

With an increase in the accident rate in the state, the government has launched an exercise to promote its recently launched Chief Minister’s Santhvana Harish Yojane. Under the scheme, all injured persons will get timely financial assistance of up to Rs 25,000 to facilitate hospitals to start treatment on time.

Addressing the gathering, on Wednesday, during a workshop organised by Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust, in association with the Health and Family Welfare department, at the Platinum Jubilee Hall of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC and RI), to sensitise the staff and health assistants of both government and private hospitals, Medical Superintendent of K R Hospital Dr Chandrashekar said, “Karnataka is ranked fourth in mishaps in the nation, with 44,020 road accidents reported in the year 2013 itself. In case of injured persons, the State is ranked second at 11.5 per cent, that serves as a wake up call, to save the lives of mishap victims.”

Explaining about timely medical help, Dr Chandrashekar said, the first 48 hours in the case of any mishap is crucial for victims. “First aid helps in mitigating the impact on the victim’s mental status, as he or she will be in a shock. Timely first aid can be given only when the victims are rushed to hospitals on time. For this, the role of the general public is pivotal, who at most of the times are reluctant to help mishap victims, fearing further consequences,” he said.

Dr H S Prasad, regional officer of the trust, gave an account of hospitals classified into different levels under the scheme. Hospitals with trauma care facilities like taluk hospitals and nursing homes are graded as level three hospitals, while district hospitals and private hospitals are listed under level-two. Multi-speciality hospitals come under level-three.

Prasad said, victims — whether Indian or foreign — can be benefitted under the scheme. “Also, a call to the helpline number of the department 108 and ‘108’ ambulance service will be helpful in attending to the needy. By calling the department helpline, the victims can be ferried to hospitals with better facilities to decide on the treatment,” he added.

District Surgeon Dr K Pashupati, Dr Diwakar and manager of the trust Venkatram were present.