INDIA- 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.

The Ministry claims that EMS helicopters can provide a crucial service by providing quick emergency care during the “golden hour.”

This is a time after a life-threatening occurrence when receiving appropriate care can make the difference between life and death.

The Ministry declared that when used in an EMS capacity, helicopters can significantly increase the capacity by quickly expanding the medical outreach.

 “A broader network is eventually planned to be added to the existing land-based ambulances to provide access to trauma care services for a greater population base across the nation,” the Ministry noted.

The Ministry further stated that it intended to conduct a pilot project using helicopters in an EMS function to examine the viability, benefits, and hazards if any.

This will be important as it will determine the best course of action before more significant resources are committed.

Air ambulance activities would be subject to DGCA regulation and CAR Section 8 Series S Part VII – Operation of Aeromedical Transportation (AMT) standards.

According to the statement, “MoCA plans to seek an Expression of Interest (EoI) from air operators that can provide one single-engine or twin-engine helicopter in an air ambulance role with EMS capability for a period of six months based off of a helipad at AIIMS Rishikesh.”

The project will be hosted at AIIMS Rishikesh in accordance with the agreement for a six-month period, with the possibility of an extension with mutual consent.

Air ambulance activities would be subject to DGCA regulation and CAR Section 8 Series S Part VII – Operation of Aeromedical Transportation (AMT) standards.

The air operator should be able to supply a qualified crew for the operations because the region of operations includes high terrain.

They should plan for the necessary logistics as the helicopter will be based at the AIIMS Rishikesh helipad for the length of the project.

It would be available every day from sunrise to sunset on standby, with a 20-minute reaction time.

A minimum of 45 hours per month would be guaranteed to be used for helicopter operations.

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