Spike in air ambulance transfers amid Covid-19

HYDERABAD: Covid-19 has given a big push for air ambulance operators in the country. Several critical patients have been airlifted from different countries and states and transferred to medical facilities. In Hyderabad alone, an air ambulance service has shifted 25 patients, while other players are estimated to have brought in 40-45 patients for medical emergencies.

Currently 4-5 operators and a few agents cater to the growing air ambulance sector, which is seeing an increased demand lately and has seen a surge in awareness during the pandemic. “An estimated 150-200 air transfers, including inter-state and inter-country transfers, happen each month,” Captain Amit Kumar, chief operating officer Bookairambulance, said, adding “awareness and demand are growing”. “There is an upswing in awareness during the pandemic. Currently, Covid-19 patients are also seeking this service, but they cannot be transferred due to rules and regulations,” he added.

A majority of the patients airlifted were from some rural and semi-urban pockets and transferred mostly to five major cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. “While the patients are of all age-groups and illnesses, recently we airlifted two premature twin babies who were extremely critical and were on ventilator support. They were brought from Goa to Hyderabad,” Dr Rahul Singh, co-founder, International Critical Care Air Transfer Team said, adding of the 65 air transfers since the pandemic, 25 were brought to Hyderabad. ICATT, meanwhile, operates a dedicated air ambulance service run by a doctor duo trained in aero medical sciences. It has a dedicated team and medical aircraft with required equipment like ventilators.

“Usually, air ambulances in India are a make-shift arrangement made on chartered flights. Whenever a patient has to be shifted, two chairs are removed to fix a stretcher and the required equipment are set up temporarily,” explained Dr Sanjay Mishra, founder and director Air Rescuers Private Limited, which has been into the segment for the last 20 years. “While in the initial days of the pandemic, there was some impact on transfers, now we are back to normal shifting 2-3 patients daily. Usually, transplant patients and patients seeking tertiary care seek the service. With increasing awareness, this segment is likely to grow further,” he added.

Currently, the chartered flights, mostly small aircraft (C-90 and B-200), cost anywhere between 5 lakh and 12 lakh per transfer, depending on distance and flying time.