The Bill has three components — epidemics, biochemical disasters and natural disasters. All ministries which have attached medical departments, like the Railways, Defence, Health Ministry, Employee State Insurance (ESI), have been given guidelines on SOPs by the NDMA.

As of now, medical emergencies are dealt under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897. “This needed to reviewed and the proposed Bill will give the Centre the power to take preventive measures in case of an outbreak. In case where multiple states are involved, it will be easy for the Centre to take necessary action,” said a Health Ministry official, adding that most states have evolved SOPs to strengthen the existing system.

In case of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) casualties, mass casualty management will begin with decontamination of wounds and burns injuries prior to admission. For CBRN casualties, specialised ambulances will be used for evacuation and patients will be taken to earmarked hospitals with staff trained in CBRN treatment of radiation and burn injuries. The next SOP would be decorporation or the removal of internally deposited radionuclides from the body after accidental intake. And then the long-term treatment will commence.

“Around 300 experts across the country have drafted the guidelines on which the SOPs will be based. Making this a Concurrent law will strengthen medical preparedness and mass casualty management during emergencies,” said Lt Gen Dr J R Bhardwaj, member of the NDMA.

Simply put, the NDMA is reviewing the existing set-up of various establishments including health departments of state governments, comparing them with best practices used worldwide and telling them how to react better in an emergency.

... contd.