Post-Budget Webinar discusses strengthening of Emergency & Trauma Care Centres across District Hospitals

Announcement under Para 88: “Strengthening of Emergency & Trauma Care Centres”.

In the Union Budget 2026–27, the Government announced a major initiative to strengthen emergency healthcare services across the country. As highlighted in Para 88 of the Budget, emergencies often expose families, particularly the poor and vulnerable, to unexpected health expenditure. To address this challenge, the Government has proposed to strengthen and increase emergency and trauma care capacities by 50% in District Hospitals by establishing Emergency & Trauma Care Centres.

The session brought together policymakers, public health experts, clinicians, administrators, and representatives from State Governments and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for strengthening emergency and trauma care systems and ensuring effective implementation of the Budget announcement.

The webinar was attended by participants including Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, MoHFW; Kiran Gopal Vaska, Joint Secretary, NHA, MoHFW; Dr. Pradeep Khasnobis, DM Cell, MoHFW; Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); Shri Arun Sobati, Director, MHA; Dr. Rajan Khobragade, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Kerala; Shri Saurabh Gaur, Secretary, Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Dr. Minu Bajpai, Executive Director, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS); Dr. Atul Kotwal, Former Executive Director, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC); Ashish Jain, CEO, Skill Council, Health Sector; Dr. Sanjeev Bhoi, Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Tej Prakash Sinha, Additional Professor (TC), AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Manu Ayyan, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry; Dr. S. Vineeth, Project Director, Tamil Nadu Health System Project; and Dr. Raman Rao, EMLC Head, GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute).
(updaed on 8th march 26)