Bhubaneswar, Odisha : AIIMS Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Disaster Management Cell of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has successfully conducted a six-day Capacity Building Training on Hospital Preparedness for Health Emergencies. The programme was designed to strengthen India’s healthcare system so that hospitals remain functional and resilient during disasters while ensuring uninterrupted medical services to the public.
The training brought together senior healthcare professionals from Odisha, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Assam. Participants included Consultants, District Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents, Senior Medical Officers, Hospital Administrators, and Managers, all of whom were trained to lead preparedness initiatives in their respective institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said, “Hospitals are the lifeline during disasters. Strengthening their preparedness and continuity plans ensures that critical care reaches people when it is needed the most. This programme was a step towards building disaster-resilient healthcare systems in the country.”
The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Director and CEO Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Medical Superintendent Dr. Dilip Kumar Parida, DDA Lt Col Abhijit Sarkar, and Nodal Officer Dr. Jayanta Kumar Mitra.
The training covered a wide range of crucial topics such as hospital disaster management principles, hospital emergency incident response systems, the Disaster Management Act, triaging, logistics, fire safety, crisis communication, psychosocial care, hospital evacuation, and continuity of services. Participants also engaged in mock drills and returned with practical experience from a field visit to the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) Base in Bhubaneswar.
This marks the first time AIIMS Bhubaneswar implemented the programme, making it the fourth training programme under the national initiative to enhance hospital disaster preparedness across India. Resource persons included AIIMS faculty trained in national capacity-building programmes for health emergencies.
Experts highlighted that with India frequently facing natural calamities such as floods, cyclones, and heatwaves, such initiatives are critical to ensure hospitals remain operational and lifesaving services continue without disruption.
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