AIIMS Rishikesh to begin first heli-ambulance service in Uttarakhand
State’s first heli ambulance pilot project is going to start in AIIMS Rishikesh by the last week of April. The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has tied up with a company to operate Heli Ambulances. The central and state governments will jointly operate the heli ambulance service in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may inaugurate the project.
On 20 September 2022, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia formally announced the operation of heli ambulances at AIIMS in a program in Delhi. In-charge of Heli Emergency Medical Service and Nodal Officer of Heli Ambulance Service, Dr. Madhur Uniyal said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has entered into a one-year tender with the company for operation of Heli Ambulance.
The Central and Uttarakhand governments will operate the heli ambulance service in a 50-50 partnership. The contracted company will provide free heli ambulance to 45 injured and patients in a month. He said, the heli ambulance will provide service to entire Uttarakhand as well as within 100 km radius of Uttar Pradesh.
Helicopter will be of single engine, AIIMS will prepare SOP
The contracted company will provide a single engine helicopter to AIIMS. The company will also invest medical resources in this. AIIMS administration is preparing medical standard operating procedure (SOP) for operation of heli ambulance. Heli ambulance will have its first trial run. The service will start after getting the green signal from the AIIMS administration.
Training being given to AIIMS employees
For the Heli Ambulance Pilot Project, health workers are being trained in primary trauma care, trauma team training, advanced trauma life support, advanced trauma care for nurses etc. At the same time, a simulator will also be made available by the Defense Research and Health Organization (DRDO) for the training of heli ambulances. The simulators will be available by the end of the year.
Chardham pilgrims will get benefits
Chardham travelers will also get benefit from the commencement of Heli Ambulance service in April. Till now, accident-prone and seriously ill passengers were brought to AIIMS by air lift. But, now the heli ambulance will take them to AIIMS.
