Eurocopter looking to set up helicopter emergency medical services in India

NEW DELHI: Aiming at establishing helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in the country, Eurocopter is planning a pilot project for a pan- India network with the help of a consortium of government institutions, private hospitals and other stakeholders.

"India urgently needs dedicated HEMS to cater to large populations spread across the vast region. The need of the hour is to step up investment in building pan-India network and infrastructure to promote HEMS," Erwin Stople, co-founder of European HEMS and chief flight surgeon and medical director of Germany's ADAC Air Rescue , said.

He said that HEMS can help save many lives, permanent disabilities and long medical treatment in the case of stroke, heart attacks if appropriate action was taken in the "golden hour".

In emergency medicine, the "golden hour" refers to a time period lasting from a few minutes to several hours following traumatic injury during which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent death.

Stressing the need for a dedicated and efficient air medical services, Stople said for a billion-plus population, which is spread at places that are far away from any modern medical facilities such Helicopter Air Ambulance services could help in providing better treatment to time-critical patients.

As Eurocopter's air medical consultant , Stople will be meeting a host of government institutions, private hospitals and other stakeholders to understand the needs and requirment of air medical services.

Elaborating about the air ambulances, Michael Rudolph, head of HEMS in Eurocpoter said, "India has emerged as a mature market especially for new age medical facilities.

"Operators, helicopter manufacturer and association were looking forward to support implementation of HEMS in India by setting up pilot project together with a consortium of government institutions, private hospitals, insurance companies," he said.

He said that implementation of helicopter air ambulance services starting from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad would become one of the most demanding projects in the coming decades.