Implement Modern Training Curriculum, Modules for National Emergency Life Support course for doctors, nurses, paramedics: Parliamentary Panel

Opining for the immediate implementation of NELS courses, the Committee has recommended the Health Department to "sensitize all States and UTs for creation of requisite training infrastructure and implementation of NELS course."

"Disaster does not arrive with prior notice and health is the first casualty of the disaster. Strengthening of healthcare disaster preparedness is therefore the need of the hour to give the matching human response to the vicissitude of the disaster. The first and the foremost of any disaster is the deployment of disaster warriors and medical services for the affected persons on urgent basis," mentioned the Committee report.

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The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, has submitted its 126^th report on Demands for Grants 2021-22 on 08.03.2021.

The Parliamentary Committee on Health took note of the fact that a budgetary provision has been made for two schemes related to health Sector disaster preparedness & response and emergency medical services. Among these, the first scheme is Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response scheme and the second one is Human Resource Development for Emergency Medical Services scheme.

The first scheme aims to- build capacity to respond to health consequences of disasters and Public Health Emergencies, promote risk communication for creating awareness, strengthen health sector command and control response through health emergency operational centres, develop specialized capacities for handling medical aspects of Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) disasters in identified hospitals in the vulnerable states/districts among others.

Among these, the Committee noted that several workshops to manage public health emergencies have already started and many of them have been accomplished as well. 5 training workshops for managing CBRN medical emergencies also accomplished. Detailed Project Report is in the finalization stage to set up the CBRN Medical management centre.

On the other hand, the Committee noted that the Human Resource Development for Emergency Medical Services scheme aims to develop, pre-test and finalize training curriculum and modules for National Emergency Life Support (NELS) course for doctors, nurses and paramedics, develop training infrastructure in all States/UTs to implement NELS course, and create a cadre of trainers to train doctors, nurses and paramedics working in emergency departments of the hospitals and in the ambulance services.

Among these, the process of setting up of skill centres in rural areas are under process in 82 Government Medical Colleges/Institution out of these 12 skill centres equipped with mannequins, medical equipment, drugs and other materials. The NELS course for doctors have been developed. The same course for the nurses is in the advanced stage of preparation. 200 doctors have been trained as mater trainers in National Emergency Life Support Course.

Mentioning that the first and foremost of any disaster is the deployment of disaster warriors and medical services for the affected persons on urgent basis, the top health panel has recommended the Health department to "give greater impetus to the scheme for better human response while combating the disaster."

Regarding this, the Committee has cautioned the Government "against the consequences of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disasters and at the same time urges the policymaker to underline the need for giving special impetus to develop specialised capacity building to combat the potential threat of CBRN Disaster." The Committee, thus, accordingly recommended for setting up of the CBRN Medical Management Centre.

Finally, addressing the issue of the NELS course, the Parliamentary Committee further recommended the Department "to finalize Modern Training Curriculum and Modules for National Emergency Life Support (NELS) course for doctors, nurses and paramedics and its immediate implementation."

"The need of the hour is to sensitize all States and UTs for creation of requisite training infrastructure and implementation of NELS course" mentioned the Committee report.

Furthermore, the Committee observed that Detailed Project Report (DPR) to set up tertiary level CBRN Centre could not be finalized due to outbreak of pandemic Covid-19 and secondary level CBRN centres project could also not take off due to procedural hassles.

"The Committee, however, feels that with the waning away of the impact of pandemic Covid-19, all-out steps should be taken to finalize the DPR of the tertiary level CBRN and Government would also invite the eligible bidder for secondary level CBRN Centres project. The Committee also underscores the significance of setting up of Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) for enhancing capacity to respond to public health emergencies involving CBRN hazards. The Committee believes that once the implementation of the scheme progresses as per plan, there would be optimal utilization of capital outlay to the tune of Rs. 52.82 crore earmarked in BE 2021-22," mentioned the Committee report.