“AAPI is only a facilitator”

Dr M L Hanumadass, chairman, task force on burns care in India for AAPI and former director at the US-based Cook County hospital had recently come down to India to evaluate burns centre of different cities and brainstorm with Indian burn surgeons for formulating guidelines on burns centres in India. The project which germinated with a gusto two years back, immediately went into hibernation, following the recession in the US economy as an aftermath of the Twin tower blast. The project has once again gained momentum. Dr Hanumadass gives an insight into the protocol for burns care followed in the US to Rita Dutta.

What would the involvement of Indians burns surgeons have in chalking standardization for burns care?
It is not the intention of the AAPI task force on burn care in India to impose standardization of burn care on burn units in India It is purely voluntary. Though there is a fund of knowledge and expertise in India in this field, it is restricted only the few major medical centers. Our goal is to raise the awareness about burns and encourage Indian leaders to share the knowledge and expertise with the rest of the medical community.

Would the same protocols that are followed in the US be formulated for India?
The American Medical System in general and Burn care in particular is totally different. India cannot and should not try to emulate this system. It should be modified to suit Indian situation and social economic conditions. The US has an emergency medical system (EMS) for all kinds of medical emergencies including trauma and burns. Fire fighters, paramedics and emergency medical personnel are utilized for rapid evacuation, pre hospital stabilization, triage and transportation. In the US major burns are treated in specialized burn care centers with dedicated staff from the time of admission to rehabilitation and reentry into the society.

Will AAPI give financial support to upgrade burns care?
I want to clarify the wrong impression that AAPI’s task force on burns care in India came up with funds to implement the programs. Burns care is a serious problem that no single organization in India or abroad, governmental or non governmental agencies can solve in a short period of time. Our role is mostly to act as a facilitators to bring the awareness of the problem and encourage the established burn units to get involved in sharing and teaching medical community in basic principles of burn management.

What has been the achievements from your recent visit to India?
My visit this time was mainly on a fact finding mission to learn the problem first hand, to meet the leading burn surgeons to know their methods of treatment and what they can do to improve. I am very pleased with the response and commitment shown by Indian burns surgeons.