Oxygen-cylinders, delivery-kits, catheters among 88 high-end medical-supplies onboard trains soon
Trains will soon have hospitals on the move, literally. Following a Supreme Court order, Indian Railways have started making medical boxes containing lifesaving equipment, medicines and injections available across all trains and stations. A total of 88 medical supplies will be in the kit, said an official. The whole project is being implemented in a phased manner since April.
Box to contain high-end medical supplies like oxygen cylinders, laryngoscopes
The box would contain delivery kits, oxygen cylinders, laryngoscopes, catheters, syringes, tablets, splints, bandages of all shapes and sizes, ointments and even oxygen defibrillators, the official added. Except for oxygen defibrillators, the Railways will provide rest of the medical supplies. The contents of the kit were suggested by a panel comprising doctors and medical experts from AIIMS, which was formed post the SC order.
Other measures: Folding stretchers, doctor onboard
Additionally, folding stretchers will be available at all stations as an emergency measure. People would be able to apprise nearby railways hospitals and stations and contact a doctor on board. The Railways have also shortlisted a total of 162 long-distance trains that will be equipped with an augmented first-aid box. That box will contain 58 different types of medicines/first aid materials.
TTEs, guards and station-masters will be imparted training
The official added that TTEs, guards and station-masters will be imparted training on basic medical care. It all started way back in 2005, when one Ram Dutt Sharma petitioned in the Rajasthan HC after Netrapal Singh, a senior railway official, died of cardiac arrest aboard a train in February 2004. In 2017, Sharma approached the SC, which asked AIIMS to form the panel.
Medical-tests at Rs. 9 only? Railways was planning that too
In April 2016, the Indian Railways was mulling a round-the-clock first-aid service for its passengers. That would have meant charging a passenger merely Rs. 9 for healthcare tests during the entire journey, at 40% discount. A healthcare network company, Oxxy Healthcare, had approached the Railway board, offering the services. However, who would be bearing the cost remained undecided.
