India's first air ambulance facility in Kolkata

BM Birla Health Center ties up with Tops Air Rescue

BY A CORRESPONDENT
April 25, 2006

BM Birla Health Center has taken the initiative in providing emergency medical access to remote patients in a tie-up with air ambulance transportation provider Tops Air Rescue, to launch the first ever Air Ambulance Facility in eastern India.

The facility is open to patients of BM Birla and the Calcutta Medical Research Institute. A chopper will take off and land in Dum Dum Airport, and will be provided with all the facilities available in a regular ambulance, including the trolley bed, an emergency oxygen cylinder, and so on. According to Rupak Barua, director-growth and development, BM Birla Heart Research Centre and the Calcutta Medical Research Centre, "We are launching this service for the first time in this part of the country. Initially, it will primarily be driven by corporate clients." He added, "During the initial period, we are expecting to get 10-15 calls per month."

He added, "We are expecting patient calls from north eastern state and places like Haldia and neighbouring state including Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand. This bed-to-bed transfer of patients will be managed by Tops Air rescue, including medical equipment, ticketing, ground ambulance support, air port clearances amongst others."

The facility is expected to be available from 24 April, 2006, and will cost patients Rs 45,000 per flying hour. Commenting on the high cost, a spokesperson pointed out, "It is very obvious that the air ambulance facility will be costlier than its ground counterpart but the service too, will be of high class. The services can easily be rendered to the upper-middle class and the upper classes."

He added, "If the authorities see that there is a good demand for such emergency medical services then they will also increase the number of choppers." A high demand will also bring down costs. In addition, the service may be brought closer to the city. A spokesperson confirmed, "We are ready to bring the facility closer to the heart of the city if the demand for it is good."

Barua also pointed out that the facility need not be limited to Indian states. "We have initiated discussion with governments of other countries as well as directorate general-civil aviation (DGCA), government of India," he said. Patients from Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are likely to be able to avail of this facility.

According to Suyash Borar, chief operating officer, "Currently, we will be offering our new service from Kolkata airport. We have seeked permission from DGCA to build a helipad on the roof of our existing unit in Kolkata." Permission is also being sought to build a similar helipad on the ground of Alipore Jail.