The government said on Saturday that it will soon initiate helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in India. FE had reported on Thursday that the government plans to soon roll out HEMS from AIIMS Rishikesh.
The ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) said on Saturday that the strategic initiative aims to redefine medical outreach, delivering rapid emergency medical care crucially within the golden hour following life-threatening incidents. The ministry said: “A tender process resulted in the selection of a party to provide a single helicopter in an air ambulance capacity at the AIIMS Rishikesh helipad for a one-year term. This groundbreaking project, set to launch imminently, serves as a blueprint for other states, with Odisha and Madhya Pradesh expressing keen interest in similar services.”
According to the ministry, the selected helicopter is equipped with a fully operational EMS kit, including a stretcher and medical equipment, enabling the transportation of one patient and 1-2 medical personnel.
