Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar July 18: A group of US-based Kashmiri doctors today launched fully equipped critical care ambulances in Kashmir.
A group of Kashmir doctors named “Kashmera” based in US in collaboration with the State Government and few NGOs launched the service to ferry the injured to the two premier hospitals in Srinagar.
The service was launched during a function at SKICC here. “This service is set to start by the end of July 2019. We are starting it as a pilot project in the Srinagar city. The ambulances will have paramedics and junior doctors on-board to provide pre-hospital emergency care and transport the patients to the nearest available emergency room,” said Nahida Nazir, who chairs the healthcare committee of “Kashmer.
Kashmer is a member-based organization of Kashmiri origin physicians and allied healthcare personnel in North America. “The vision is to provide a platform to these professionals to network, educate, mentor and mainly to give back to their native land, especially the healthcare sector,” Nahida added.
She said there is no robust EMRS available in the Valley and ambulances largely function as transportation vehicles without any necessary medical equipment or trained paramedical staff. “In the absence of emergency care, pre-hospital mortality rates have gone up drastically. Our project aims to change the concept of ambulances in the Valley to life-saving emergency medical transportation. We are keen on having an evidence-based EMS, driven by technology and trained personnel with universal access,” Nahida said, adding that the pilot EMRS project will be initiated in Srinagar’s Old City to gain experience and gauge the popular response.
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