file photo – Additional chief secretary health and family welfare, Amit Kumar Ghosh
Lucknow: State govt is set to roll out the UP Trauma and Emergency Network (UPTEN), an integrated emergency medical system aimed at ensuring patients receive treatment within the first 60 minutes of an accident or medical emergency. The plan includes 173 integrated trauma and emergency medicine units, comprising 11 level-1 apex hubs, 36 level-2 regional centres and 126 level-3 district units. The plan also proposes free emergency treatment for up to 48 hours for all citizens to ensure treatment is not delayed due to financial constraints.
The network will link the state’s trauma, burn, cardiac, stroke and other emergency services through a single platform. A three-tier first responder network is also proposed, bringing together police personnel, ambulance staff, fire service personnel, home guards and trained citizens to provide immediate assistance during emergencies.
Other measures include a dedicated budget for UPTEN, creation of an emergency medicine officer (EMO) cadre and incentives for specialist doctors.
Under the plan, 1,200 advanced life support (ALS) ambulances will be integrated into the network, while 18 divisional command centres will coordinate emergency calls, ambulances, hospital beds and specialist services. Govt aims to reduce emergency response time by 30-50% and enable faster medical decision-making through real-time networking, digital alert systems and AI-based triage.