**Executive Summary**
A post-budget webinar discussed strengthening emergency and trauma care centres in district hospitals, aligning with the Union Budget 2026-27's aim to increase capacity by 50%. Key discussions focused on integrating emergency response systems, enhancing infrastructure, and developing a skilled workforce. The outcomes will inform the implementation roadmap for these centers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Budgetary Focus:** Union Budget 2026-27 prioritizes emergency healthcare, aiming to increase trauma care capacity in district hospitals by 50% through the establishment of Emergency & Trauma Care Centres.
* **Integration of Emergency Services:** Emphasis was placed on integrating the 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) with ambulance services and hospital systems for faster and coordinated emergency response.
* **Infrastructure Development:** Discussions included transforming existing casualty wards into fully functional Emergency Care Departments with triage areas, resuscitation facilities, ambulance bays, diagnostics, and emergency operation theatres.
* **Workforce Development:** The importance of capacity building and workforce development through structured training programmes for doctors, nurses, and paramedics was highlighted, including expanding specialized courses and establishing dedicated medical officer cadres.
* **Digital Technologies and Data Systems:** The role of digital integration and data systems, such as State Trauma Registries integrated with the National Trauma Registry, was emphasized for monitoring trauma cases and improving evidence-based policy decisions.
* **Emergency Medical Transport:** State-level innovations in emergency medical transport systems and the use of data-driven planning to optimize ambulance deployment and reduce response times were discussed.
* **Quality and Governance:** Improving facility readiness and strengthening clinical governance were highlighted as crucial for ensuring quality emergency care services.
**Impact Analysis**
**District Hospitals**
* **Impact:** District hospitals will see a 50% increase in emergency and trauma care capacity due to the establishment of new centres and upgrades to existing facilities. This will enhance their ability to manage time-sensitive medical conditions.
* **Action Required:** District hospitals need to prepare for the establishment and operationalization of Emergency & Trauma Care Centres, including upgrades to infrastructure, procurement of equipment, and integration with emergency response systems.
**Healthcare Professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics)**
* **Impact:** Healthcare professionals will benefit from enhanced infrastructure and potentially new roles within the strengthened emergency care system. There will be an increased focus on skilling and upskilling.
* **Action Required:** Professionals will need to engage in structured training programmes and skill-based initiatives to adapt to the enhanced emergency care protocols and technologies.
**Patients (Especially Poor and Vulnerable)**
* **Impact:** Patients, particularly the poor and vulnerable who are often exposed to unexpected health expenditures from emergencies, will benefit from improved access to timely and quality emergency healthcare, potentially reducing mortality and long-term disability.
* **Action Required:** Patients will have access to more robust emergency medical services when they require timely intervention.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** State governments will be instrumental in implementing the recommendations and shaping the roadmap for strengthening emergency and trauma care centres. They will need to coordinate with various stakeholders.
* **Action Required:** State governments need to align their strategies with the Union Budget announcement, share innovations, and focus on interoperable and integrated response mechanisms.
Key Entities Referenced
Union Budget 2026–27: This is the primary policy document driving the initiative to strengthen emergency and trauma care.
Emergency & Trauma Care Centres: The core focus of the policy, these are the facilities to be established or strengthened in district hospitals.
112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): A key system to be integrated with ambulance and hospital services for faster emergency response.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for this initiative and the author of the document.
Dr. V.K. Paul: A key individual who moderated the webinar and provided concluding remarks, emphasizing the importance of the initiative.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Post-Budget Webinar discusses strengthening of
Emergency & Trauma Care Centres across
District Hospitals
Budget 2026-27 Prioritizes Emergency Healthcare; Trauma
Care Capacity in District Hospitals to Rise by 50%
Experts Emphasise Integration of 112 ERSS with Ambulance
and Hospital Systems; Call for Faster, Coordinated
Emergency Response
Digital Technologies, Workforce Development and Clinical
Standards Highlighted as Key Pillars for Strengthening
Emergency Care
States Share Innovations in Emergency Medical Transport
Systems; Stress Need for Interoperable and Integrated
Response Mechanisms
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 2:53PM by PIB Delhi
As part of the Post-Budget Webinar series on the theme “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling
Aspirations of People”, a breakout session was held on the Budget Announcement under Para 88:
“Strengthening of Emergency & Trauma Care Centres”.
In the Union Budget 2026–27, the Government announced a major initiative to strengthen emergency
healthcare services across the country. As highlighted in Para 88 of the Budget, emergencies often expose
families, particularly the poor and vulnerable, to unexpected health expenditure. To address this challenge,
the Government has proposed to strengthen and increase emergency and trauma care capacities by 50% in
District Hospitals by establishing Emergency & Trauma Care Centres.The session brought together policymakers, public health experts, clinicians, administrators, and
representatives from State Governments and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for
strengthening emergency and trauma care systems and ensuring effective implementation of the Budget
announcement.
India faces a significant burden of emergency medical conditions including road traffic injuries, heart
attacks, strokes, poisonings, burns, snake bites etc., which require timely intervention within the “golden
hour” to prevent deaths and long-term disability. Experts noted that emergency cases account for a
substantial proportion of hospital visits and admissions, while emergency beds constitute only a small
share of total hospital bed capacity in many district hospitals, highlighting the need for strengthening
emergency care infrastructure and systems. The discussion also highlighted the role of implementation
research and data-driven approaches in identifying gaps and improving emergency care systems at the
district level.
During the session, discussions focused on strengthening pre-hospital emergency response systems,
integration of the 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) with ambulance services and
hospitals to ensure timely response and effective patient management. Participants also emphasized the
need for better coordination among emergency services and strengthening operational capacities of
emergency response systems.
Panelists also deliberated on the need to strengthen infrastructure at district hospitals by transforming
existing casualty wards into fully functional Emergency Care Departments with triage areas, resuscitation
facilities, ambulance bays, diagnostics, and emergency operation theatres. Rapid construction ofEmergency & Trauma Care Centres and procurement of essential equipment were also discussed. The
importance of improving facility readiness and strengthening clinical governance to ensure quality
emergency care services was also highlighted.
The discussions further highlighted the importance of capacity building and workforce development
through structured training programmes for doctors, nurses, and paramedics. Expansion of MD and DNB
courses in Emergency Medicine, establishment of a dedicated Emergency Medical Officer cadre, and
skill-based training initiatives were discussed to build a sustainable emergency care workforce.
The webinar also emphasized the importance of digital integration and data systems, including
development of State Trauma Registries and their integration with the National Trauma Registry, as well
as improved use of digital platforms for monitoring trauma cases and strengthening evidence-based policy
decisions. Participants also discussed the growing role of digital technologies and real-time monitoring
systems in improving emergency response and patient care.
The session also highlighted state-level innovations in emergency medical transport systems and the
potential of data-driven planning to optimize ambulance deployment and reduce response times.
Through these deliberations, the session aimed to identify actionable recommendations for strengthening
emergency and trauma care infrastructure, improving pre-hospital and hospital-based response systems,
and enhancing access to timely and quality emergency healthcare services across the country.
The insights and recommendations emerging from the discussions will contribute to shaping the
implementation roadmap for strengthening Emergency & Trauma Care Centres in District Hospitals, in
line with the Union Budget announcement.
The session was moderated by Dr. V.K. Paul, member, NITI Aayog and deliberated by other 18 panellists.
The session was attended by large number of participants through webinar mode and through YouTube
lines.In his concluding remarks, Dr. Paul emphasized that strengthening emergency and trauma care at the
district level requires a systematic and outcome-oriented approach that goes beyond infrastructure to focus
on performance and service delivery. He highlighted the importance of monitoring key indicators to
improve response and treatment for time-sensitive emergencies. He also stressed the need for greater
convergence across hospital systems, ambulance networks and government programmes, supported by
digital technologies and real-time monitoring. Emphasizing the critical role of human resources, he called
for continued skilling and upskilling of emergency care personnel to build a strong and responsive
emergency care system.
The webinar was attended by participants including Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, MoHFW; Shri
Kiran Gopal Vaska, Joint Secretary, NHA, MoHFW; Dr. Pradeep Khasnobis, DM Cell, MoHFW; Shri
Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); Shri Arun Sobati, Director, MHA;
Dr. Rajan Khobragade, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare,
Government of Kerala; Shri Saurabh Gaur, Secretary, Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Government of
Andhra Pradesh; Dr. Minu Bajpai, Executive Director, National Board of Examinations in Medical
Sciences (NBEMS); Dr. Atul Kotwal, Former Executive Director, National Health Systems Resource
Centre (NHSRC); Mr. Ashish Jain, CEO, Skill Council, Health Sector; Dr. Sanjeev Bhoi, Professor,
Department of Emergency Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Tej Prakash Sinha, Additional Professor
(TC), AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Manu Ayyan, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jawaharlal
Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry; Dr. S. Vineeth, Project
Director, Tamil Nadu Health System Project; and Dr. Raman Rao, EMLC Head, GVK EMRI (Emergency
Management and Research Institute).
***
SR
HFW–Post-Budget Webinar-Strengthening Emergency & Trauma Care Centres/9th March2026/2
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