Public hospitals overburdened

In the first four months of 2011, 1037 accidents in the city left 1,160 individuals injured and killed 208, according to the traffic police data.

In the first four months of 2011, 1037 accidents in the city left 1,160 individuals injured and killed 208, according to the traffic police data.

HT Image

In 2010, 4896 people were injured in road accidents and 549 were killed. Many of these victims died due to lack of medical treatment during the first ten minutes, known as the crucial platinum period, or the 60-minute period following the accident referred as the ‘golden hour’.

Most private hospitals do not have specialised trauma care centres to provide services to patients suffering from severe physical injuries or shock. Only six public hospitals in the city have trauma care centres. which are over-burdened. Sion Hospital, with the biggest trauma unit in the city, treats 2500 major trauma patients every year.