The benign concept of “Golden Hour” although unites its stakeholders — the traffic police and hospitals — with regard to the objective behind the concept, it divides them on the supposed glitches in the sustenance of the emergency facility for a dying accident victim.
The traffic police’s control room has received only five to six distress calls since it was inaugurated on February 1. Most of the calls were made from the outskirts of the city on highways which were claimed to be addressed on time by respective hospitals and traffic police. However, lack of awareness about life saving facility available just a phone call away has brewed pessimism among stakeholders about continuance of the system.
“This can’t be done at our level. We have got no calls since it (Golden Hour) was inaugurated,” said Director Devkamal Hospital Dr Anant Sinha. However, discontent underneath the surface of otherwise calm system has brought focus back on one of the most contentious bill related to safety and security of hospitals and doctors-Medical Protection Act of 2013. The Act safeguards doctors, nursing homes and hospitals from violent attacks and stipulates fine of Rs 50,000 and three years’ of jail term for causing damage to a hospital’s property or attacking doctors. Notwithstanding the provisions of the act, doctors believe that the threat to their lives and property still exists.
“There have been incidents of vandalism in hospitals. So we need protection but sadly the Medical Protection Act has not been passed so far in the State. Although we respond to calls made for medical assistance threat regarding lives and property is something which needs to be addressed,” said a Medical Superintendent of a private hospital. Interestingly, the Traffic police criticised doctors crying foul about Medical Protection Act and supposed non-implementation. The Traffic police derided doctors for the “phobia” about possible attack by a victim’s kin in the event a case slips out of hand rejected it on grounds of being “baseless and misplaced”.
“Wherever such incidents have happened the prime reason was either perceived lapses in treatment or hospital’s insisting on money to begin treatment. Under the ‘Golden Hour’ system it has happened that the police has reached before a medical van could reach the spot. So, the presence of police eliminates any threat related to vandalism,” said Traffic SP RR Singh, the person behind the idea.
Incidentally, Singh stressed on the need for working jointly and ironing out any differences rather than circumventing other stakeholders. The hospitals on their part have demanded sensitisation of police and onsite training especially police personnel to carry out first aid until a medical team reaches the accident spot. As many as 26 hospitals — private and Government — have been made a party for implementing the scheme.