India's Emergency Medical Response: Challenges, Standards, and the 'Platinum Ten Minutes' Goal
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Governance (Public Health, National Health Mission, "108" Service); Indian Polity and Governance (Article 21 - Right to Life/Health); Science & Technology (GPS, Drones in healthcare).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Health & Governance): Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health; Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
General Studies Paper 3 (Disaster Management): Disaster and disaster management (specifically crowd management and emergency response).
Key Highlights from the News
The global shift in emergency medical care is moving from the concept of the "Golden First Hour" to the goal of "Platinum Ten Minutes" (i.e., delivering medical assistance within 10 minutes). 🚑
In India, the government-run 108 Ambulance service (a successful public-private partnership (PPP) model) performs well (e.g., average response time in Tamil Nadu is 10 minutes 14 seconds), but private ambulances have little standardisation.
The article argues for the establishment of an Emergency Services Regulatory Authority in each state to regulate all emergency services in the country (including air ambulance and drone services).
In tragedies like the Karur stampede, ambulances being unable to reach the scene indicates a failure in crowd management.
The right to emergency medical care is included in the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
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