Student body demands 24×7 medical services, dedicated ambulances, hospital tie-up and stronger emergency response system
Mumbai: Following the death of Dr. Janardhanan P., a student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has raised concerns over the preparedness of emergency medical services on the campus and demanded time-bound action from the administration. ABVP Mumbai, along with concerned students, staged a demonstration outside the TISS Mumbai campus and submitted a memorandum to the administration seeking immediate measures to strengthen emergency medical infrastructure. The organisation said students facing medical emergencies must have timely access to ambulances, qualified medical assistance and appropriate hospital care.
ABVP has demanded a 24×7 emergency medical service on the campus, along with a dedicated ambulance and a backup ambulance. It has also sought a clearly defined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and a dedicated emergency helpline. The organisation has further called for an MoU with BARC Hospital or a nearby super-speciality hospital to facilitate urgent treatment when required. Among its other demands are health and accident insurance coverage for all students and strengthening of the TISS Health Centre with adequate doctors, trained medical personnel, essential medicines and emergency equipment.
Credit: ABVP / Handout
ABVP Mumbai Mahanagar Secretary Abhishek Pawar said the death of Dr. Janardhanan P. had deeply affected the student community and highlighted the need for a reliable emergency response mechanism on campus. “The unfortunate death of Dr. Janardhanan P. has deeply affected the student community and underlines the importance of having a robust emergency medical response system on campus. In any medical emergency, students must have immediate access to an ambulance, medical assistance and appropriate hospital treatment,” Pawar said. He said the administration should move beyond assurances and take concrete, effective and time-bound measures. “Student health and safety must remain a priority. ABVP Mumbai will continue to raise legitimate concerns regarding the welfare and safety of students,” he added.
ABVP has asked the TISS administration to take visible and satisfactory action on these demands within 10 days. The organisation has not alleged that the lack of emergency medical facilities caused the student’s death. Its demands have been raised in the aftermath of the incident and concern the broader preparedness of the campus medical response system.
