Amid rising tensions following Operation Sindoor, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has established a 24×7 command-and-control room to ensure seamless coordination between the Centre and states on medical emergency preparedness. The move comes in the wake of growing security concerns after India’s targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting on Friday to assess the country’s readiness to deal with potential medical emergencies. He was joined by health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and other senior officials. During the meeting, Nadda was briefed on the operational status of all hospitals and health facilities across India.
“In situations like the one that the country is currently facing, it is important to have clear communication between supervising authorities and executing authorities. Since states are the executing authority in matters of health, this command-and-control centre will be beneficial,” a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.
The newly established control room will function round-the-clock to monitor and coordinate the availability of essential medicines, medical supplies, infrastructure, and fire safety measures. It will also serve as a central hub for updates on hospital preparedness and real-time response.
Health secretary Srivastava had earlier held a series of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday with hospitals and stakeholders nationwide to ensure a robust emergency response system is in place. These meetings aimed to evaluate and strengthen preparedness in the context of the escalating conflict.
The heightened state of readiness follows the Indian armed forces’ Operation Sindoor, conducted on Wednesday as a retaliatory strike against terror networks. The operation targeted nine terror hubs in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Officials said the Centre is prioritising public safety and is working closely with state health departments to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to handle any surge in medical demand.
Sources By Agencies
