Sunday, March 04, 2018

Flyers at risk as small airports lack med facilities

The regional connectivity scheme may make it easy to fly to small towns but the flip side is the lack of emergency medical care at many of these airports.
In the wake of the death of a scientist following a heart attack before boarding a flight in Varanasi last year, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is holding internal discussions to beef up medical facilities at these airports.
A petition by a relative of Lalji Singh, the scientist who died at Varanasi airport, has drawn attention to the absence of medical facilities at small airports.
The scientist was travelling from Varanasi to Hyderabad when he suffered a heart attack. “He was left stranded at the airport where there was no oxygen cylinder, no doctor and no ambulance to help him. It was only two hours later that he received medical intervention at a distant hospital, but by then it was too late,” said the petition.
Under the Udan phase one scheme, flights are scheduled to begin to Salem, Neyveli and Hosurthis year. Similarly, Thanjavur airport will also be opened under phase two of the scheme. Unable to provide round the clock medical facilities at these airports, the AAI is looking at various options to ensure that the medical needs of passengers are taken care of.
04/03/18 Times of India
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