Experts call for establishing National Emergency Centre.

Karachi -- Emergency medicine experts from various national and international health institutions Friday called for establishment of a 'National Emergency Center' and 'National Emergency Call Number' to coordinate emergency services and response in case of natural or man-made calamities in the country, saying coordinated efforts by emergency service providing institutions could save hundreds of precious lives and prevent life-long disabilities after disasters and incidents of terror.

They were speaking at scientific session on 'Emergency Care' as part of the 54th Annual Symposium of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), which was chaired by the eminent neurosurgeon and former Executive Director of JPMC Prof. Rasheed Jooma and co-chaired by Dr Seemin Jamali, the serving executive director of the JPMC.

The experts also urged the authorities to establish a 'National Trauma Registry' in the country to ascertain the causes of deaths and injuries due to accidents and trauma and suggested that emergency response drills should be conducted on regular basis in the mega cities to prepare the emergency and medical services as well people in case of any natural or man-made disasters, saying trained and prepared emergency-care providers could prove more effective in minimising loss of lives and limbs.

Experts from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center Saudi Arabia, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Indus Hospital Network, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and JPMC made detailed presentations on different aspects of dealing with medical emergencies and presented their recommendations for improving emergency healthcare, especially in mega cities like Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, Eminent Neurosurgeon Prof Rasheed Jooma said government should immediately establish 'National Emergency Center' and issue a 'National Emergency Call Number' on the pattern of '911' so that in case of any emergency, people could approach the emergency service and the experts available at the emergency response could direct them to relevant departments and coordinate...