Northeast to get India's first helicopter-based dispensaries

Narendra Modi-led Central government is all set to start helicopter-based air dispensary service, first of its kind in the country, to serve people in hinterlands in Northeast India.

Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said, “The Northeast will soon have helicopter-based air dispensary to serve people staying in remote areas in the region.”

Singh added, “Helicopter-based dispensary will be gift for the people of Northeast by the Central government in 2018.”

The union minister further added that DoNER has already contributed Rs 25 crore as part of the initial funding to launch the service to the earliest.  The union minister had held a meeting with representatives of aviation sector and helicopter service Pawan Hans on Sunday.

Singh told the media that his ministry since long has been exploring the idea of introducing helicopter-based dispensary/OPD services Northeast hinterlands, where patients do not have access to doctors or medical facility. “We had proposed the idea to the Central government and it has been accepted and is in the final stages of the process in the ministry of civil aviation.”

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According to plans of DoNER, three twin-engin helicopters will be parked at Imphal and Shillong from where they will cater service in eight states in the Northeast region. The helicopter-based dispensary will fly with doctors, paramedical staffs and medical equipments. The helicopters will fly back with patients if intensive medical care is required.

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Singh also said that after the success of helicopter-based dispensaries in the Northeast it will be launched in hill states.