New emergency medical center to cater to 3.5 lakh Chennai Central passengers

Chennai:

After four long years, an emergency medical center (EMC) is being set up to cater to 3.5 lakh passengers visiting Chennai Central, one of the busiest railway stations in the country.

The EMC that is being launched by SRM Institutes for Medical Science, Vadapalani in collaboration with Southern Railway at the Concourse Hall comes in the wake of court directive to do so within one month after a public interest litigation highlighted the lack of it. 

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, K Ravi Kumar, director operation of SRM Institutes for Medical Sciences and Dr Siddarth Ghosh, chief executive officer and director of department of nuero sciences at the institute, said that the free EMC is being set up as part of the institute’s corporate social responsibility scheme. “We are investing Rs 60 to Rs 70 lakh for the scheme and the railways preferred us over another bidder,” said Kumar.

Chennai Central, which has 15 platforms to handle about 200 long distance trains and three platforms exclusively for suburban trains, gets on an average two emergency cases, says Chennai Central station manager S Govindasamy.

“This emergency support system will make a vital difference in person’s battle for life,” he said. Kumar said there is a need for more such centers at other railway stations also.

The center will have six-bed day care center with nursing station providing cardiac, orthopedic and neurological services according to emergency and trauma needs of patients. The EMC is also being provided with a 24/7 ambulance service and will also have a nursing station, treatment, examination, dressing room and exclusivity and privacy for female patients. High end infrastructure and equipment such as electro cardiogram, defibrillator, resucitation facilities, nebuliser and essential medicines to stabilize the patient prior to moving to hospital will be made available at the center.

Although there is lack of pharmacy centers in the station, Kumar said that all life saving medicines and routine drugs will be adequately stocked to meet emergency and general requirements. He said the center will be serviced by two doctors plus one as a standby, four nurses, and have the backup support from SRM Institutes for Medical Science doctors. “We will also engage two housekeeping staff for day to day cleaning and maitenance,” Kumar added.