And now, low cost, intensive care on wheels

Dr A.M.D. Motiwala, director, National Paediatric Centre at Chopra Harsh Hospital, said the service was initially being launched in and around Delhi and was likely to be extended to other states. Any individual, family or organisation wishing to avail of the facility against a “nominal” monthly fee will be given a computerised unique identification number card.

The cost of membership works out to a nominal Rs 3 per month for school kids and Rs 30 a day for families, said Dr Motivala. After becoming members, they will be able to avail of these services free.

For institutions for the handicapped, rehabilitation centres for the blind, orphanages the service shall be available free of cost.

The members, who could even be children, can carry with them this card, which will bear details about their health background. In case of an accident or some emergency like heart attack, all one has to do is dial the centralised control room at Chopra Hospital and give the identification number and location where help is needed.

Even as the Mobile ICU carrying doctors shoots off to the spot, the control room will give directions to the driver over the wireless to help him reach the spot quickly. The attending doctors will stay in touch with experts over what treatment to provide during the patient’s transportation. The patients will then be taken to any of the hospitals that are a member of the “Childline-Lifeline” network.

For eventualities occurring beyond 250 km, the organisers propose to add helicopter services. Dr Motiwala said they have tested the concept to save the lives of premature babies for five years now, with about 1,000 paediatricians in and around Delhi. “In recent tragedies like Uphaar cinema fire and Wazirabad bus accident, precious lives could have been saved with a system like this,” said Dr Motivala.