RailEnquiry

The Maharashtra government on Thursday issued a circular, making it mandatory for all private hospitals in the state to cater to railway accident victims and not turn them away.Based on the recommendations of a joint committee that had been appointed to look into the issue, this has been included in a 17-point list of guidelines issued to the railways on accident victims.The committee was formed after authorities were rapped by the Bombay high court about the rising number of deaths and complaints of injured victims left to die in the absence of emergency medical services.Headed by medical director of all civic hospitals Dr Sanjay Oak and including officials from the health department, the civic body Railway Protection Force, city police and public hospitals, the 14-member panel set up last year found lack of ambulances at many stations during their inspection the Western and Central railways stations.

Samir Zaveri, who had taken the matter to court, welcomed the decision.

“The committee also included officials from the railways so that all the suggestions included could be assessed by the railway administration as well and made more practical for implementation,” he told DNA.