Tamil Nadu’s emergency care centres treat 2.29 lakh patients in 12 years

In trauma care, doctors talk about the “golden hour” of 60 minutes when every second counts. So what happens when advanced trauma facilities are miles away from accident-prone highways and sprawling urban environments? Tamil Nadu’s Emergency Care Centers (ECC), located along highways, including those on the outskirts of Chennai, come into play playing a vital role, handling over two lakh cases in the last 12 years and achieving a 96% survival rate among the critically injured and sick.

Since its establishment, ECCs have served a total of 2,29,065 people. The state currently has 12 ECCs strategically located on major highways and high-risk areas, run by EMRI Green Health Services under the Tamil Nadu Health System Project, which also operates a network of 108 ambulances. These centers operate at strategic locations in Acharapakkam, Padianallur, Singaperumal Koil, Mahabalipuram, Veppur, Santahavelur, Kodumbalur, Madhanur, Madurai, Magundachavadi, Shoolagiri and Gummidipoondi. Each center deals with approximately 10 cases per day. Keerthi Varman K., president of the Emergency Medicine Learning Center and ECC, said 50% of the cases handled daily are trauma-related.

stabilize patients

EMRI Green Healthcare Services State Operations Head M. Selvakumar said that the aim of these centers is to stabilize patients and refer them to appropriate healthcare facilities.

How are the places where ECC will be established determined? The locations of ECCs are determined through grid analysis of places with high fatal accidents using annual accident data of Tamil Nadu. The proximity of the nearest tertiary care facility is assessed and if there is no Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative center or medical college hospital within 25 km, a government building near the hotspot is identified and recommended for ECC.

Need-based centers

These centers are completely need-oriented. Once an accident-prone location has been adequately addressed, the facility is moved to another designated hot spot. For example, ECC, which was established in Chromepet in 2013, was shifted to Acharapakkam in 2021 following the upgradation of Chromepet Government Hospital (GH). Dr. Keerthi Varman explained that similarly, ECC in Sriperumbudur was shifted to Santavelur after hospital upgradation, while Injambakkam ECC was shifted to Singaperumal Koil.

ECCs serve not only people injured in traffic accidents on highways, but also people in surrounding areas facing medical emergencies such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, snake bites, poisoning, assault and falls.

The 24-hour centers are equipped to handle accidents and medical emergencies, including management of airway, breathing and circulation, and stabilization of patients. Each center has one doctor and three paramedics per shift, all trained in emergency protocols. “This is not a hospital, but a stabilization center. For example, if a patient’s condition worsens and requires stabilization, a patient who goes to the medical faculty hospital by 108 ambulance is brought to AKM. The patient spends a maximum of 30 minutes here and is transferred to the appropriate facility immediately after stabilization.”

Mr. Selvakumar added that ECCs help reduce the mortality rate. “The government of India has taken note of the role played by these ECCs,” he said. Temporary ECCs are also set up during mass gatherings such as temple festivals.

It was published – 26 February 2026 12:17 IST