Tuesday, 07 March 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
PG students of medical colleges to be deployed on Yatra route
In view of the health issues faced by the pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra, the government is planning to set up a robust three-tier basic infrastructure to cater the health of the pilgrims. A plan is also afoot for installation of a strong network of advanced life support ambulances (ALSA) and the stroke vans for the patients suffering stroke and other illnesses during the Yatra.
The Union Health minister Mansukh Mandavia informed about these plans during his meeting with the Health minister of Uttarakhand Dhan Singh Rawat in New Delhi on Monday. In the meeting, Rawat told Mandawia about the challenges which confront the pilgrims due to the tough terrain and high altitude during the Char Dham Yatra and deaths of some pilgrims in the Yatra last year. Assuring complete support of the Union government, Mandavia said that the best possible health care system would be set in place for the pilgrims. He said that with the help of stroke vans and advanced ambulances it would be ensured that the stroke management and treatment starts on the way to the hospital. The minister said that there is a plan to deploy the Post Graduate (PG) students of medical colleges of the country as first responders in the Yatra route. He opined that this experience would help in developing the skill set and capacity building of the PG students. The union minister added that use of drones would be made to supply medicines in the areas located in high altitudes in Yatra route. The drone was successfully used to transport the Covid-19 vaccines in the north east and recently All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh has held a successful trial of transporting medicines by the use of drones.
The union health minister said that a strong referral back end system is being developed by involving AIIMS Rishikesh, Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) and Srinagar medical colleges which would act as tertiary care treatment centers
