Central Railways, Western Railways choose different business models for medical rooms

While both Western and Central Railways have embarked on the process of setting up Emergency Medical Rooms (EMRs) at railway stations, as mandated by the Bombay High Court, the model chosen by the two has been different.

While the CR wants hospitals to come forward and operate the EMRs in such a way that they become on-station clinics, where railway passengers can go for consultancy after paying a fee, the WR is clear that the firms running the EMRs will only be used to treat train accident victims.

One of CR's tender specifications for the EMRs is that "while medical practitioners are available and not attending to the injured passengers, they could extend consultancy to bonafide train commuters for a fee, if they wish to consult them while waiting at the station". This, officials said, will make these rooms like clinics for the hospitals and give them a chance to increase their outpatient clientele.

"Since the equipment at the EMRs will include automatic ECG machines, blood pressure instruments and the like, commuters can get themselves checked for a fee while waiting for a train," said a CR official. CR officials are confident that the model can be successful and they expect several hospitals to come forward to run such clinics at more stations.

WR's tender is, however, a terse one, saying that those running the EMRs will use them to "provide emergency medical care to people injured due to untoward incidents on railway premises, like falling off/getting hit by trains".

"For the moment, it seems as if the WR is taking a risk. Chances of the EMRs remaining idle for long is high because the number of passengers injured at the station where the EMR is situated is likely to be a small one. Moreover, WR's model of EMRs will see it pay a fixed charge per doctor, nurse and attendant. CR's model is one where the hospital running the EMR pays to use the space while railways provides it electricity. The hospital can earn revenue by treating railway passengers for non-train-related ailments," said a railway official.


The EMR issue

In November 2014, the Bombay High Court ordered that both the railways set up EMRs to give railway accident victims quick treatment before they are taken to a nearby hospital. While the CR will have their EMRs at 12 stations, the WR will have it at 10 locations. The stations on CR are Thane, Mulund, Dadar, Panvel, Vashi, Dombivli, Kalyan, Diva, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Karjat and Wadala. The WR will have EMRs at Mumbai Central, Bandra, Goregaon, Churchgate, Borivli, Virar, Andheri, Kandivli, Vasai and Palghar.