Red tape entangles Indian patients’ journey home

Dubai: Sending hospitalised Indian patients from the UAE to their home country has been facing delays due to the current formalities of national carrier Air India, say social welfare groups assisting the transfer of patients. The procedures that require Air India’s medical team based in its headquarters in Mumbai to assess the airworthiness of patients have often resulted in unwanted interruptions adding to the trauma of patients and their families, they said, calling for immediate revision of the formalities.
The new procedures were introduced last year when the merger of the two airlines, Indian Airlines and Air India, was completed under the parent company National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL).
Prior to that, most of the patients used to be transported on Indian Airlines flights and the airworthiness of patients was to be assessed by the doctors treating them locally.
Now, every detail about the health status of the patients has to be sent to Air India’s medical team in Mumbai. “What is frustrating is that very often, they ask questions in bits and pieces,” said a volunteer from the Indian Association Sharjah. “So, it takes a lot of time by the time all papers are in place. But that time period is really precious, even if it is one day, for the patients and their families back home,” he said, requesting not to be named.
02/03/12 Sajila Saseendran /Khaleej Times

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air India Mar 2012, Foreign Mar 2012