In a strategic move to strengthen India’s medical emergency response, the Union government is developing a dedicated cadre of doctors and healthcare workers trained to manage mass casualty incidents. The government will station these professionals at hospital emergency departments. It will also deploy them to handle natural disasters, accidents, and man-made crises with speed and coordination.
Mass Casualty Management Programme Rolled Out
Named the Mass Casualty Management Programme, this nationwide initiative aims to train over 1,000 frontline healthcare professionals in crisis response. Officials familiar with the project confirmed the proposal’s approval. It was cleared during a recent Mission Steering Group meeting of the National Health Mission (NHM).
“This capacity-building drive includes 50 intensive training sessions across the country,” a senior official said, highlighting the urgency of the programme given the increasing frequency of disaster events.
Structured Training Modules for Effective Response
As reported by The Mint, the programme will follow a structured approach. Each session will include 20 participants—five each from four participating hospitals. Trainees will consist of emergency physicians, medical officers, nurses, and designated disaster response coordinators.
Official documents state that Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions will last five days, while standard training courses will take three days to complete. Another official involved in the planning confirmed the programme’s estimated budget at ₹6.55 crore.
BHISHM Cubes to Play a Key Role in Disaster Sites
A key objective of the training is to ensure the effective deployment of the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) Cubes. These modular mobile hospitals can be rapidly deployed at disaster sites and are designed to treat up to 200 patients on-site.
Earlier reports indicated that the government plans to acquire 50 BHISHM Cubes to be stationed at 22 strategic locations, including major centres like AIIMS.
Expert Voices Stress Importance of Skilled Manpower
Mobile medical units like BHISHM Cubes are critical. However, experts emphasise the need for trained personnel and team coordination to maximise their impact. Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, a public health expert and former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA, Cochin), pointed out that intensive, high-quality training for doctors and nurses—especially those from casualty departments—can lead to significant outcomes.
“Standardised training modules, realistic drills, and periodic re-certification will help ensure these teams stay prepared for unpredictable events. Effective teamwork in resource-constrained environments will be the key to saving lives,” Dr. Jayadevan noted.
India’s Healthcare Workforce Ready for the Challenge
According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), India has a robust medical workforce. It includes 13.86 lakh doctors and 36.14 lakh registered nursing personnel. This initiative aims to tap into that potential and create a skilled emergency response force ready to act at short notice.
Queries to the Ministry of Health remained unanswered at the time of reporting. However, the Mass Casualty Management Programme marks a significant step toward building a resilient, responsive, and coordinated healthcare system for times of crisis.