AIIMS Patna launches 3-day mass casualty management course for Bihar healthcare professionals
Patna: AIIMS Patna has launched a three-day Mass Casualty Management Course for healthcare professionals from major government medical institutions across Bihar.
The training programme is being organised by AIIMS Patna in collaboration with the Department of Emergency Medicine, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC), AIIMS New Delhi, and the Disaster Management Cell of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The initiative seeks to equip healthcare professionals with the skills required to effectively manage large-scale emergencies and disaster situations through structured training, simulation exercises, and coordinated response planning.
According to UNI report, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, on Monday launched the Course to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities of healthcare professionals in the state. The programme aims to promote inter hospital coordination, standardise emergency response protocols and build a skilled, disaster ready healthcare workforce for Bihar and the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Brig.) Dr. Raju Agarwal, Executive Director and CEO, AIIMS Patna, said that Bihar is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly floods, with nearly 73% of its geographical area prone to flooding. Several districts also fall under moderate to high seismic zones, making disaster preparedness a critical priority. In such situations, well prepared hospitals and trained healthcare professionals play a vital role in providing timely and coordinated emergency medical care.
He said that the course includes training in hospital disaster management planning, Incident Command System (ICS), patient triage, surge capacity management, emergency communication, resource optimisation, inter-agency coordination, evacuation planning and continuity of healthcare services during disasters. Participants will also take part in simulation based exercises, table top discussions and scenario driven drills designed to improve decision making and operational readiness, quotes UNI
Agarwal said that disasters are often unpredictable but preparedness is a planned and continuous process. He emphasised that every hospital must have a robust disaster management system supported by well defined standard operating procedures, a functional Incident Command System, regular mock drills and a workforce trained to respond swiftly under pressure.
The programme is being conducted under the guidance of Prof. Sanjeev Bhoi, Head, Department of Emergency Medicine, JPNATC, AIIMS New Delhi. Training sessions are being led by Dr. Shreesha Nayak, faculty at JPNATC, AIIMS New Delhi.
Healthcare professionals from AIIMS Patna, Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital (ANMMCH), Gayaji and Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna are participating in the three day training programme.
