In a significant step to strengthen much needed trauma care in India, GVK EMRI the world’s largest integrated emergency services provider signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Trauma Research Institute, Australia.
The MoU was signed by Dr. GVK Reddy, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, GVK and Prof. RusselGruen, Director, NTRI; in the presence of the Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbot .Dr. G.V Ramana Rao, Head, EMLC & Research, GVK EMRI, was also present at the occasion.
This partnership further enhances an established world-class network of emergency transport services managed by GVK EMRI. The expertise of NTRI Australia brings an unparalleled opportunity to develop regional trauma systems that provide injured people with lifesaving care at the roadside, rapid transport and timely treatment of their injuries.
With expertise in trauma care, systems design, training and research the partners are ideally placed to demonstrate the effectiveness of these systems in meeting the needs of a country where over 140,000 lives are lost annually in road accidents and the loss of lives and injuries leads to an
“The technical know-how of NTRI Australia combined with the experience of GVK EMRI in Indian conditions will accelerate developments in trauma care many fold. Through this initiative we will be able to contribute towards saving many more lives. At GVK EMRI, we are proud of being able to play a part in this service to the nation, said Dr. Reddy.
This development of trauma systems would ensure seamless and effective care across the country with the ability to address the needs of the community in terms of trauma care in case of any individual trauma emergencies and multi-casualty incidents, he added.
Trauma is a major public health problem in India. In India trauma is categorized into two categories, vehicular and non-vehicular. On an average, GVK EMRI 108 ambulances respond to over 23,000 emergencies every day. Till today, they have responded to over 29 Million emergencies and saved over one Million lives in very critical emergencies. Every day, about 3,000 Vehicular Trauma emergencies are responded to aggregating to 4 Million road traffic accidents served till date. Over 85 per cent of GVK EMRI beneficiaries are poor and underprivileged residing in rural India and as a result, 108 GVK EMRI services are now referred to as a landmark PPP in healthcare within India.
NTRI is a department of Alfred Health with a close association with Monash University, Victoria, Australia, focusing on reducing death and disability from trauma, and improving the quality of life of survivors of trauma, through more effective treatments, higher quality care and better trauma systems. It engages in innovative programmes of research and development to improve trauma care and trauma systems.