Centre approves 300-bed polytrauma centre at NIMHANS north campus in Bengaluru

The Central government has approved the establishment of a 300-bed Polytrauma Centre and Postgraduate Institute at Kyalasanahalli in Bengaluru North, where the north campus of NIMHANS is coming up. The project to be taken up at a cost of ₹498 crore was awaiting approval for the last 11 years.

In July last year, C.N. Manjunath, Bengaluru Rural MP, had submitted a concept note on the proposal for the 300-bed polytrauma centre to the Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, urging him to accord sanction at the earliest. 

According to the sanction letter dated June 27 by the Union Ministry of Finance, the Union Health Ministry should ensure optimisation of resources (manpower,  infrastructure, supplies and medicines) as suggested by NITI Aayog in 2021, in its report titled “Emergency and Injury Care at Secondary and Tertiary level Centres in India”.

“To optimise the resources of the polytrauma centre, the proposed facility should also cater to regular patients along with emergency cases,” the letter stated.

Golden hour requirement

“Given that nearly 15% of deaths in India are due to road accidents and about 30% of accident victims suffer from multiple injuries, the need for a dedicated trauma facility is urgent. The ability to provide comprehensive, immediate care under one roof during the “Golden Hour” can significantly improve survival rates and  recovery outcomes,” he said.

Pointing out that the polytrauma centre will serve as a crucial facility for the treatment of patients suffering from multiple and complex injuries, including those involving the head, brain, chest, abdomen and bones, the doctor-turned-politician said the Centre will play a vital role in addressing the growing shortage of hospital beds in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, and will ensure faster, more efficient trauma care. Importantly, it will also include a postgraduate institute to train trauma care specialists.

NIMHANS overcrowded

“The outpatient footfall at NIMHANS, the country’s premier mental health institution, has increased from around 250 patients a day to 2,500 a day now. The hospital is always overcrowded and not able to cope with the load of patients. Because of space constraints and the non-availability of polytrauma services, critical patients are  shifted from NIMHANS to other hospitals. Some of them die during transit,” he said.

“This will be the second polytrauma centre in India, after the Jayaprakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre at AIIMS, New Delhi, marking a significant expansion of India’s trauma care infrastructure. Construction is set to be completed in 30 months,” Dr. Manjunath said.

Although the State government had allotted 37 acres of land, and the above proposal has been approved by the governing body of the institution with many revisions and re-revisions, it was pending for almost 11 years, he said.