Modi Govt’s nod for NIMHANS’ Polytrauma unit to save 1000s of lives: Surya

Surya thanks Union Health Minister JP Nadda for nod to 300-bed polytrauma centre near KIA

Bengaluru, June 28: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya welcomed the Union Government’s approval for a 300-bed polytrauma unit of the NIMHANS near the Kempegowda International Airport, calling it a significant step in providing lifesaving and emergency critical care to accident victims around the Bengaluru region.

The Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, accorded in-principle approval on Friday for the construction of NIMHANS Post Graduate and 300-bedded Polytrauma Centre at Kyalasanahalli near the Kempegowda International Airport at a cost of Rs 498 crore.

Surya, who recently met with Union Health Minister JP Nadda, pushed for the early nod for the project. Surya also met the Health Minister earlier this year with Bengaluru Rural MP Dr CN Manjunath. Even back in 2022, Surya made persistent efforts to get a nod for the project with the then Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The project had been awaiting the approval of the Department of Expenditure, which was finally granted coinciding with the Kempegowda Jayanti celebration in Bengaluru.

Calling it a welcome move, Surya said: “The establishment of a Polytrauma centre close to the airport will help in providing emergency relief to accident victims. At present, there’s no other public facility catering to such trauma cases in the vicinity. The Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister JP Nadda is addressing a major humanitarian challenge through the Polytrauma centre and I thank them for sanctioning this centre at a cost of Rs 498 crore.

“It’s vital that accident victims receive critical care during the Golden Hour. The Polytrauma Centre of NIMHANS, apart from providing this emergency care, will also cater to those suffering from multiple organ failures due to a fall from height, assault or any occupational injury. It’s an important step in reducing fatality and saving the lives of thousands of trauma patients.”

Road traffic accidents are the most common cause of polytrauma. According to the World Health Organization, road traffic accidents are likely to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. In India, in 2022, there were 4,61,312 incidents of road accidents which claimed 1,68,491 lives and caused injuries to 4,43,366 persons. This represented an increase of 11.9% in terms of accidents and 9.4% in terms of fatalities as compared to the previous year.

The Polytrauma Centre, once operationalised, will enable a multi-prong approach to patients and be an important regional centre for providing emergency care. Apart from that, given its proximity to the National Highway and the KIA, patients from other cities will also be able to access the Centre better.

The land for the facility to an extent of 39 acres in Kyalasanahalli was allotted in 2012-13 to NIMHANS during the tenure of the BJP Government in Karnataka. The Institute then submitted a proposal for developing a 300-bedded state-of-the-art polytrauma facility to the Union Government with a project cost of Rs 498 crores. With the in-principle approval from the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, being granted on Friday, the final approval from the Union Healthy Ministry is expected soon.

About Author