New Delhi: A hospital that is up and running in a disaster zone within two hours of an emergency could have made a critical difference to the rescue operations in the valley.
However, the hospital that would have been a boon for both rescue workers and the victims has been under the health ministry?s consideration for 4 years now.
The Indian government first woke up to the need of these hospitals to tackle emergencies after the earthquake that shook Bhuj, Gujrat, in 2001.
Though the tender for the hospital was passed, an order is yet to be placed.
A mobile hospital is a unit for service in any area that is affected by war or natural calamity. It can be moved from one place to another to meet the demands of the combat situation. It contains water purification and sanitary units and its own power generator.
The Parliament was assured four years ago that a hospital would be in place within a year but the project is still entangled in the red tape.
Says Professor Santosh Kumar of National Institute for Disaster Management, ?With mobile hospitals access to affected places is faster. It has taken sometime to finalise technical specifications. But we must realise the urgency and complete the process as soon as possible.?
Till a mobile hospital is acquired crucial lives will continue to be lost.
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