Bhubaneswar, July 24: In a groundbreaking move to enhance India’s disaster response capabilities, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has received three sets of BHISHM Cubes, a modular mobile medical innovation developed under the Aarogya Maitri Project by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) with technical support from the Ministry of Defence.

BHISHM — short for Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita, and Maitri — is designed to deliver life-saving trauma care during the critical golden hour following disasters. Each cube contains 338 essential items, including ayurvedic medicines, surgical instruments, and portable diagnostic devices, and can treat up to 200 victims on-site.

“This is a noble integration of technology and humanitarian spirit,” said Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. “BHISHM Cubes enable rapid treatment and prevent the loss of precious lives during emergencies.”

The cubes are packed into 66 lightweight aluminium modules, each under 20 kg, allowing for swift transport and setup within two hours — a dramatic improvement over traditional 12-hour deployments. They include trauma life support tools, portable X-ray and ultrasound machines, refrigeration units, generator-powered workstations, and even a fully functional operation theatre.

A hands-on training session was conducted by the Health Ministry for doctors, nurses, and disaster response teams to ensure effective deployment. The session saw participation from key officials including DEAN Dr. P. R. Mohapatra, MS Dr. Dillip Kumar Parida, and representatives from NDRF and OSDMA.

Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Dr. Tanmoy Roy, the chief innovator of the BHISHM Cube, emphasized, “In disaster zones, time is life. BHISHM Cubes bridge the gap between rescue and treatment, ensuring last-mile medical support.”

Already deployed in high-altitude regions by the Indian Army and Air Force, BHISHM Cubes have also been used internationally in Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Myanmar.

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