Panaji: Following a stampede at a temple in North Goa that left six dead and several injured, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday announced the establishment of a “Code Red” system in the state to respond to such emergencies.
On Sunday, Rane visited the injured pilgrims at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here and inquired about their health.
Talking to reporters, the minister said that he has already announced the establishment of a system called “Code Red,” which is an internationally recognized emergency response protocol.
“When there are emergencies, the Code Red protocol activates automatically within the hospital. You don’t need to wait for any department or individual to respond,” he said.
Rane stated that under this system, multi-disciplinary doctors are immediately engaged and are in a better position to take quick, necessary decisions.
“This Code Red system will have Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 phases. It will start in Goa Medical College and later be implemented in the district hospitals and Super Speciality Hospital,” he said.
The minister said that the establishment of the Code Red system will “definitely help to deal with emergencies more effectively.”
Rane added that during his visit today, he met all the patients from the stampede. “I personally went and interacted with each one, spoke to their relatives, and discussed the treatment protocols with the doctors,” he said.
He said that there are two to three patients in critical condition, out of which two have shown a positive response, but they need to be monitored very closely.
“I have also suggested to the doctors that if any specialist needs to be brought in from any part of the country, or if any backup systems are needed to stabilize these patients, we must do it,” he said.
The minister said that the stampede is a tragic event and as a state, it is our responsibility to look after each and every patient admitted to GMCH and North Goa District Hospital.
