Everyday, worldwide, there are innumerable cases of emergency medical conditions. In Bangladesh population pressures, poverty, stress of modern life, traffic problems and accidents cause medical emergencies to multiply. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to emergencies.

Unfortunately our emergency medical care facilities in hospitals and clinics are poor, and often emergency victims are left uncared for hours together, if not days.

Also the attending health professionals and paramedics are not trained in emergency

medical care. The poorer people needing help sometimes die in the very units of emergency care. The elements in emergency medical care are pre-hospital care, swift attention to victims, well trained health professionals, adequate emergency medical supplies, availability of back-up consultancy services, and medical education and training in emergency care.

In all advanced countries and in some

developing nations emergency medical care is a specialized discipline and health professionals who are interested, take up courses and practical training in emergency medical care and trauma management.

In our medical colleges, hospitals and clinics emergency medicine must be prioritized. To that end our cover story this week is on 'Emergency' so that the urgent issues involved in such care are focused.