NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has planned to develop a helicopter emergency medical service (EMS)  so as to offer speedy treatment to needy citizens.

According to the Ministry, EMS helicopters can offer a vital service that can promptly give emergency care during the "golden hour." The term "golden hour" refers to the period of time after a life-threatening incident occurs when receiving definitive care can mean the difference between life and death.

"When used in an EMS capacity, helicopters can significantly increase the capacity by quickly expanding the medical outreach. A broader network is eventually planned to be added to the existing land-based ambulances to provide access to trauma care services for a greater population base across the nation "the Ministry declared.

The Ministry said that it intended to launch a pilot project using helicopters in an EMS function to test the viability, benefits, and hazards, if any, in order to identify the method that can be taken before more substantial resources are committed.

According to the statement, "MoCA plans to seek an Expression of Interest (EoI) from air operators that can provide one single-engine or twin-engine helicopter in an air ambulance role with EMS capability for a period of six months based off of a helipad at AIIMS Rishikesh."

As per the agreement, the project will be housed at AIIMS Rishikesh for a period of six months, with the possibility of an extension with mutual consent.

The DGCA would regulate air operations, and air ambulance operations would adhere to CAR Section 8 Series S Part VII - Operation of Aeromedical Transportation (AMT) criteria.

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