MERCs established on highways

ISLAMABAD:

The Balochistan government has established 18 Medical Emergency Response Centres (MERCs) along the national highways in the province to provide medical treatment and rescue facilities in case of a road accident.

In the pilot phase of the programme, the authority established 14 MERCs alongside Karachi and Quetta-Zhob (N-50, N-25) highways of Balochistan and these centres are functional from October 23, 2019 to date.

The government has planned to expand the programme across the province by establishing more centres along the highways to provide medical treatment to the travelers and rescue service in case of emergency. According to an official source, Medical Emergency and Response Centers (MERC), have responded to a large number of accidents on the highways whereas injured people were provided treatment.

“Balochistan government had initiated the programme by allocating an amount of Rs3 billion and it was expanded to construct more centers along every highway in the province,” it added.

To provide first aid in emergency situations, two ambulances and fire brigade vehicles were available at every medical center.

The government was ensuring round the clock availability of medical officers, surgeons and trained paramedical staff at every Medical Emergency and Response Center to save human lives in case of accidents.

He said the centers have been connected with district hospitals to deal with emergency situations and for administrative purposes.

The official sources said that the government had also been working to expand the main roads to control accidents in the province.

The government was ensuring round the clock availability of Medical Officers, Surgeons and trained paramedical staff at every Medical Emergency and Response Center to save human lives in case of accidents on the national highways.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2021.