Jipmer launches state-of-the-art disaster response facility with BHISHM Cube

Jipmer has launched a state-of-the-art disaster response unit.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Jipmer has launched a state-of-the-art disaster response unit.
| Photo Credit:

Special Arrangement

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) has launched a state-of-the-art mobile unit that aims to significantly raise the levels of disaster preparedness.

The facility, established with the BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri) Cube, is designed to provide swift and comprehensive care during natural and man-made disasters, a press note said.

The initiative, under the Arogya Maitri Project of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, represents a committed effort to enhance healthcare resilience and emergency response, especially in regions vulnerable to large-scale emergencies such as those in southern India, Jipmer said.

The BHISHM Cube is equipped with a wide array of life-saving tools, including defibrillators, portable ultrasound, infusion pumps, surgical and anaesthesia stations, blood and fluid warming systems, and advanced triage modules.

The Cube represents a convergence of cutting-edge medical technology, strategic mobility, and humanitarian intent. Each cube is compact, weighing under 20 kg, and can be manually transported or deployed using drones, boats, or vehicles.

Built on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols, the BHISHM Cube is engineered to function with minimal reliance on existing infrastructure, allowing rapid deployment even in the most challenging terrains. Two mother cubes form a full trauma response brick, capable of supporting up to 200 casualties and providing treatment within the golden hour—a critical factor in saving lives during disasters.

According to the press note, Jipmer would be hosting two such sets of cubes in its disaster stockpile.

The facility was inaugurated at a function on Wednesday held at the SuperSpecialty Block annexe in the presence of A. Kulothungan, District Collector, V. Ravichandran, Director of Health and Family Welfare Services, and Vir Singh Negi, Director of Jipmer, along with other dignitaries.

In this connection, a detailed presentation of BHISHM Cube’s capabilities was led by Tanmay Roy, retired Chief Surgeon of the Armed Forces of India, in collaboration with the technical team from HLL Lifecare Limited, the implementing agency for the project.

The presentation offered insight into the Cube’s modular design, medical capabilities, and operational readiness, and provided hands-on training to the attending doctors, nurses, and disaster management personnel.

A team of four doctors and two nurses nominated by the Health Department, along with officers deputed from the State Disaster Management Cell, participated in the operational demo.

The demonstration aimed at not only showcasing the clinical and logistical strengths of the Cube but also at laying the foundation for local capacity building and disaster readiness, the press note said.