Guwahati: The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has proposed to create a helicopter emergency medical service (EMS) in order to provide citizens with prompt care.
According to the government, EMS helicopters can offer a vital service that can promptly give emergency care during the “golden hour.”
The ministry stated that it intended to launch a pilot project using helicopters in an EMS function to test the viability, benefits, and hazards, if any, in order to identify the approach that can be taken before more substantial resources are committed.
According to the agreement, the project will be housed at AIIMS Rishikesh for a period of six months, with the possibility of an extension with mutual consent.
The DGCA would regulate air operations, and air ambulance operations would adhere to CAR Section 8 Series S Part VII – Operation of Aeromedical Transportation (AMT) criteria.
The service will consist of a single-engine helicopter that can transport one patient on a stretcher, one medical professional inside the cabin, and one pilot with carry-on medical equipment if needed. The helicopter should be able to travel 300 kilometres without refuelling.