Is being a Member of Parliament one of India’s most stressful jobs? It would seem so if you go by this shopping list: 14 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at Rs 1.90 lakh per piece. Used for administering first aid during cardiac arrests—they deliver electric shocks—these AEDs will soon be set up at different locations in the Parliament complex, including the library and annexe. Besides the AEDs, MPs will also have a special ambulance fitted with the latest medical equipment at their disposal, once Parliament reopens for the Winter Session on December 1. It’s not clear whether all this has anything to do with the fact that the 14th Lok Sabha has the maximum number of MPs above the age of 56—210, with 35 above the age of 71. But what is known is that the purchase of AEDs was cleared by a Parliament House Committee after a meeting on November 4. Justifying the purchase, the panel compared the move to the ‘‘international practice of placing such machines in shopping areas, airports and other public places’’. ‘‘These machines are known to have good first aid value for cardiac patients,’’ it observed. HEART OF THE MATTER PARLIAMENT HOUSE: Main Gate, First Aid Post, inner lobbies of both Houses, Central Hall, room No 62/63 in House building NEW LIBRARY BUILDING: Reading room for MPs (Block H), 2 machines at Balayogi Auditorium (ground & first floors) ANNEXE: Between MSA Branch and MS Branch, first floor near PM’s or Speaker’s Chamber, two machines on ground floor, medical centre The Parliament House annexe already has a well-equipped medical centre with 15 specialists, a health check-up unit and 12 computerised ECG machines, according to a related note discussed at the meeting. There are also facilities for physiotherapy, traction, an operation theatre for minor procedures, a fully-equipped laboratory, ultrasound, an X-ray machine, an auto refractometer and a refractionist. Besides, all MPs are covered under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), which entitles them to health care at all government hospitals across the country. Over 40 private hospitals and 46 diagnostic centres are also linked with this network.
