The Health Department has initiated the process of establishing Trauma Care Centres (TCCs) across 14 districts in the state, with seven of these facilities planned for Faridabad and Palwal districts.
A senior official confirmed that the Union government has approved a budget of Rs 200 crore for the project, with Rs 175 crore already allocated for procuring medical equipment. The primary trauma care centre in each district will be located within the civil hospital premises, with some facilities extending to Community Health Centres (CHCs).
“An initiative of the Central Government, the scheme will be implemented within the existing infrastructure of government hospitals. These centres will provide immediate medical intervention to victims suffering from severe traumatic injuries caused by accidents, falls or violent acts. Timely treatment within the ‘golden hour’ is critical to maximising survival rates and minimising complications,” said a senior Health Department official.
The trauma care infrastructure will be developed in districts connected to National Highways and Expressways, including Faridabad and Palwal, which are slated to receive four and three centres, respectively.
With many critical patients currently being referred to Delhi due to the lack of advanced treatment facilities in the region, officials believe the delay in medical intervention has been a key factor in high casualty rates.
“The absence of well-equipped trauma centres has been a longstanding concern. Victims suffering from serious injuries are often transported to Delhi, leading to avoidable fatalities. The new centres will ensure that no trauma victim has to travel beyond 50 km for emergency care,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
SK Sharma, coordinator of the Road Safety Organisation (RSO), an NGO, echoed this concern. “Most government and private hospitals lack state-of-the-art trauma care. The 50-km rule for establishing trauma centres on highways is critical, yet Faridabad and Palwal have been left without this essential facility for years,” he said.
Similarly, Satish Chopra of NGO Sewa Vahan, who has been protesting for nearly three months demanding a trauma care centre, criticised the inadequate healthcare infrastructure. “The poor facilities at civil hospitals have turned them into mere referral centres for critically injured patients,” he said.
Dr MP Singh, an official of the Health Department, confirmed that work on the project has already begun and that the facilities are expected to be operational within a year. The Tribune