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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
The recent directive by the Madhya Pradesh High Court to digitize the medical records of Bhopal gas tragedy survivors is a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issues faced by the victims of one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. This move, which mandates the Union health ministry, the state government, and the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre to finalize an action plan within a week, aims to streamline the process of providing medical care and support to the survivors.
The Bhopal gas tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, resulted in the release of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide pesticide factory, killing at least 5,479 people and leaving thousands with serious injuries and long-lasting health issues. Despite the passage of over four decades, the survivors continue to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster, including chronic health problems and inadequate medical care.
The digitization of medical records is a crucial step in ensuring that the survivors receive timely and effective medical treatment. The current system, which relies on paper records, is cumbersome and prone to errors. By digitizing the records, the authorities can create a centralized database that can be easily accessed by healthcare providers, ensuring that the survivors receive consistent and accurate medical care.
The High Court’s directive also highlights the need for a coordinated effort between various government agencies to address the issues faced by the survivors. The court has directed the respondents to file day-to-day progress reports and ensure the release of funds required for the digitization process. This level of accountability is essential to ensure that the project is completed promptly and that the survivors do not face further delays in receiving the care they need.
However, the success of this initiative will depend on the effective implementation of the digitization process. The affidavit filed by the respondents indicates that the medical records before 2014 are very old and that only 3,000 pages can be scanned per day. This means that the entire process could take up to 550 days to complete. The authorities must allocate sufficient resources and manpower to expedite the digitization process and ensure that the records are accurately and comprehensively digitized.
Moreover, the establishment of a cloud server under the e-hospital project, as proposed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), is a positive step towards creating a robust digital infrastructure. The integration of the scanned records into this server will ensure that the data is securely stored and easily accessible. However, the financial approval for this project is still pending, and the necessary funds must be allocated without further delay.
