Government Plans to buy Five Air Ambulance Helicopters

[Abbas Ali]

According to PTV News, government has plan to buy five air ambulance helicopters. Probably to be based/distributed in various parts of the country.

In recent times, I've seen Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopters evacuating injured people but have not seen their interior configuration/equipment.

Abbas

[Rana]

I think this is good option than Mi17
http://www.russianhelicopters.aero/en/h ... photo.html

[Pakistan-1]

Hong Kong currently uses EC155 and Super Pumas for the purpose of air ambulance and search and rescue but will be replacing them next year with H175

[Pakistan-1]

Hong Kong currently uses EC155 and Super Pumas for the purpose of air ambulance and search and rescue but will be replacing them next year with H175

[Rana]

Price of EC155 ABOUT USD 10 Million
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_EC155
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Price of EC 175 ABOUT USD 7.9 Millin
http://www.aircraftcompare.com/helicopt ... -EC175/223
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BUT PRICE OF KA-226T Ambulance is only 4.2 Million USD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-226

[Rana]

KA-226T

[Rana]

[uzairali]

Does the gov't charge people for using air ambulance?

In the west, you have to pay for air ambulance, even if hospital is free. The reason I ask because, buying 5 helicopters for say $10m each, they could instead make a big hospital for $50m, which will serve hundreds of people everyday instead of tens every now on then on helicopters.

I don't mean to say we don't need air ambulance, but right now we need proper hospitals more than helicopters. And if necessary, one or two should be enough.

Pakistan should acquire those chinook, even one. With moonsoon, there will be struggle evacuating large amount of people. Chinook can also be used as air ambulance to fill greater number of people. Plus it can transport heavy stuff for army, (or PIA engine/other parts) or anyone to rent to transport. Yeah its expensive, but it can be used in far many different ways to generate revenue (pay itself in long run) than a traditional helicopter.

[Rana]

I think these Ambulance helicopters will be used for rescue but not as usual Ambulance . Cannot understand SHEHENSHAHI mindset of peoples if we can solve problum 2 or 3 times cheep for 4.5 Millions , NO NO NO we have to buy for 10 Millions. =D>

[TAILWIND]

By definition, air ambulance means a helicopter or an aircraft wuitable equipped with equipmend and presonnel to provide life saving tratement to patients enroute from site to the hospital when road or surface transport is either not available or is time consuming vis-a-vis the condition of the patinet.
It is an alaborate system of aircrraft or helicpters looking after a specific area or community feeding desgnated emergecny centres or hospitals. I am not sure how this will be achieved with just 5 helicopters. Where these would be placed, how and when they wil be activated, which areas these would serve and which hospitals they would depend upon.
Seeing these in action movies or Flying Doctors Tv shows is one thing, running this is a different ball game altogether.
As some one suggested, its better to invest these resources in a well equipped and staffed emergency medical centre at each Tehsil HQ.

[uzairali]

I think these Ambulance helicopters will be used for rescue but not as usual Ambulance . Cannot understand SHEHENSHAHI mindset of peoples if we can solve problum 2 or 3 times cheep for 4.5 Millions , NO NO NO we have to buy for 10 Millions. =D>

these are not meant for rescue(some users have posted pics). A good one will be Mi17, as army can use it to transport military/surveilance etc PLUS use to evacuate people.

This will be useful to airlift like MNA/MPA as their medical is covered by the gov't. 95%+ pakistani population cannot afford air ambulance. Heck I live in west and i cannot afford, neither does gov't cover it, despite covering medical in other cases. I heard it costs $5000 an hour for air ambulance in Canada.

From google: The total cost of air ambulance flights can range widely, from five digits all the way up to six in some rare cases. In general, a flight will be at least $10,000, but can cost more depending on the distance of the transport as well as any specialized staff and equipment that must be on board.

Now who's gonna pay $10,000? The patient? Doubt they've that much money. The gov't? They can save far more lives with $10,000 than transporting a single patient.

[Abbas Ali]

According to news report on following link, a summary was sent on July 7, 2017 to the Prime Minister Office for the procurement of five air ambulances. So far, no reply has been received.

The air ambulance service is planned to be launched in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Cost of an air ambulance is estimated to be between 1.2 to 1.5 billion rupees. Helicopter manufacturers in countries including Italy and Russia considered for buying air ambulances.

https://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPup ... e=20180525

Abbas