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Fire Tragedy: Delhi needs more burn centers

Rohit Shishodia
Delhi’s worst fire tragedy that took place on December 8, 2019, in Filmistan’s Anaj Mandi area has exposed loopholes in burn injuries care in the national capital. More than 40 government hospitals are functioning in Delhi. But only RML, LNJP, Safdarjung and GTB have treatment facilities for burn victims.

Only RML and LNJP Hospitals were close to the locality where the tragic burn incident occurred. Some of the victims who got minor burn injuries and inhaled smoke in the incident were rushed to Lady Hardinge Medical College, assuming that the hospital will have treatment for burns. But the college lacks burns treatment.

Fortunately, patients were treated for suffocation and their minor burn injures treated at the college. Had these victims suffered major burn injuries, they would have faced difficulties and their lives would be in danger.

Safdarjung hospital has 108 beds and provides emergency services for burn affected patients. LNJP is equipped with 60 beds and RML hospital has 28 beds. But these two hospitals lack emergency burn care. The availability of these beds is too little to cater to large number of victims injured in a tragic incident.

Moreover, treatment of burns is highly expensive in private hospitals. Only miniscule private hospitals in Delhi have burn care services. Doctors often express concern over the lack of adequate burn treatment facilities not only in Delhi but in India.

Dr Rajeev Ahuja, Senior Consultant in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, has said that maximum numbers of deaths due to burn injuries take place in India. He pointed out that fifty per cent of patients admitted are dying of burn injuries every year in India.

According to an estimate, 180000 people die of major burn injuries in India.


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