Now, air ambulance to respond to your distress call

Kolkata: Fortis Healthcare is about to enter the domestic air ambulance service space. Apart from seeking the necessary approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the healthcare major is also in the process of building a small fleet of aircraft to provide emergency and critical care aeromedical transport services.
Fortis has already placed its first aircraft order to Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, the US-based business & special mission aircraft maker. Eventually, it intends to have 3-4 aircraft, each of which will cost some Rs 2 crore. Fortis is likely to float a separate company to give shape to its air ambulance plans.
Each of the specially designed aircraft will have patient monitors, oxygen cylinders, defibrillators, temporary pacemakers, infusion pumps and ventilators. The medical crew will comprise a cardiologist, a critical care specialist, a respiratory specialist and emergency care nurses.
Incidentally, Fortis plans to build its forthcoming tertiary care facilities close to airports to reap the benefit of the latest venture. It’s also exploring the option of developing air strips inside its proposed 1,000-bed healthcare hub in Gurgaon.
29/06/07 Writankar Mukherjee/Economic times

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Categories: New Jun 2007