Supreme Court's Trauma System Directive Stalls as States Struggle with Coordination Gaps
Five states and Union Territories — Delhi, Kerala, Gujarat, Haryana, and Lakshadweep — have reported complete integration with the single emergency number 112, according to data submitted to the Supreme Court. However, the broader goal of establishing a comprehensive trauma response system across all states remains largely unfulfilled, owing to persistent coordination challenges among multiple agencies.
The Supreme Court had directed states to create an integrated trauma care system to reduce fatalities from road accidents. A road accident typically involves at least six departments: police, health, road agency, district magistrate office, insurance company, and the death registration office. This multiplicity makes quick response difficult.
A key obstacle is the lack of a single, universally adopted emergency number. Currently, separate numbers exist for police (100), fire (101), medical (102), ambulance (108), highway assistance (1033), women’s helpline (181), and cyber crime (1930). The government introduced 112 as a unified emergency number, but its effectiveness depends on district- or state-level command centres that can coordinate resources from all agencies promptly.
Other factors include missing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and poor inter-agency coordination. Without clear protocols, even when a call is made, the response is often delayed or fragmented. The absence of a central command centre leads to confusion over which agency should lead the response.
The data submitted to the court shows that only a handful of states have fully adopted the 112 system. Many others are in various stages of implementation, while some have not started. The court has expressed concern over the slow progress and has sought compliance reports from all states.
Establishing a robust trauma system is critical for India, which accounts for the highest number of road accident deaths globally. The World Health Organization estimates that timely trauma care could prevent many of these deaths. The Supreme Court’s directive aims to standardise emergency response and save lives.
