• Aviation Ministry introduces India’s first helicopter emergency medical service, check details

    National
    Aviation Ministry introduces India’s first helicopter emergency medical service, check details
    This strategic project is poised to reshape medical outreach by guaranteeing prompt emergency medical attention within the critical first hour after potentially fatal events. 


    Digital Desk: In a pioneering step, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in India is leading the way in a healthcare revolution with the launch of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). 

    This strategic project is poised to reshape medical outreach by guaranteeing prompt emergency medical attention within the critical first hour after potentially fatal events. 

    The involvement by the MoCA began with the launch of a pilot project, which brought helicopters within the realm of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). 

     A party has been chosen via a tender process to supply a single helicopter for use as an air ambulance at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh helipad for a period of one year.

    This innovative project will soon be launched and will act as a model for other states, such Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, who have shown a strong need for comparable services. 

    The chosen helicopter is outfitted with a fully functional Emergency Medical Service (EMS) gear that includes a stretcher and other necessary medical supplies. This allows for the transfer of one patient and one to two medical staff over a distance of one hundred nautical miles. 

    AIIMS Rishikesh will oversee and direct medical care, guaranteeing that the patient's condition-specific medical supplies are available. 

    The MoCA is taking a bold stance when it comes to the national rollout of HEMS services. They foresee an integrated network that would supplement land-based ambulances and greatly improve accessibility to trauma care.

    Meanwhile, at the Regional Industry Conclave 2024 on Saturday, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh officially opened the Air Ambulance Services. 

    With its main office in Bhopal, the Madhya Pradesh Air Ambulance Service is set to completely transform the state's healthcare system. This all-inclusive service, manned by highly skilled physicians and paramedics, is outfitted with both a fixed-wing and heli-ambulance and attempts to cover all districts and administrative divisions. 

    Refueling options at current airports enable seamless day and nighttime HEMS operations, covering any area of Madhya Pradesh. The HEMS fleet consists of a fixed-wing plane and a single-engine helicopter.

    In line with the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, the service offers priority patient stabilization at pickup sites, followed, if needed, by airlifting them to more advanced medical facilities in large cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Hyderabad. 

    The HEMS team's strategic assets include its capacity to land anywhere in the state and its operations base in Bhopal, which guarantees quick reaction times. The main point of contact for medical transfers is an appointed nodal officer, who facilitates communication between district medical officers and the Air Ambulance Command Center.

    Rapid Response Emergency Medical Systems (RREMS) have been introduced, which incorporates remote monitoring and allows the International Critical Care Air Transfer Team (ICATT) Command Center in Bhopal to examine critical patients in real-time. This cutting-edge technology maximizes the use of medical teams and airplanes, guaranteeing a prompt and effective response to medical emergencies. 

    Pawan Hans collaborates with ICATT to support this program by sending out a Bell 407 helicopter that is outfitted with necessary medical equipment. Pawan Hans' dedication to the well-being of society and its proactive involvement in life-saving endeavors are demonstrated by this partnership.

    Leading Asia's largest air ambulance service, ICATT Air Ambulance Services is run by doctors with over ten years of experience in critical care. ICATT is a leading innovator in the field of air ambulance services in India, having gained recognition for its proficiency and tested HEMS concept during the 2018 Kerala floods.