Helicopters for Emergency Medical Services

A helicopter properly equipped and modified for rescue and emergency medical evacuation substantially enhances efficiency of the exercise of rescue of accident victims and their speedy transportation to a medical centre

Considering the huge gap existing in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in India, Eurocopter, the global leader in the helicopter industry, has started connecting with the healthcare sector and also with helicopter operators here.

Presently in India, the Indian Air Force (IAF) mostly carries out HEMS operations while the civil aviation sector is lagging behind. Eurocopter points out that even in countries such as Nepal it is the civil aviation which operates HEMS. Recently six mountaineers who were trapped at an altitude of 6,900 metres were rescued using a Eurocopter HEMS.

As the helicopter industry in India is in a nascent stage, conditions have to be created for rapid growth of HEMS, Eurocopter states and mentions issues such as lack of funds for the speedy transportation of accident victims and patients; lack of heliports; regulatory provisions restricting freedom of operations by helicopters both by day and night; pilot training etc need to be sorted out. Any effort at introducing HEMS in India on an appreciable scale necessitates the government’s involvement as a major partner.