John Wilbert & Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, October 29: It has been alleged that since last few days stretcher patients are not allowed in Private Airlines, being operated in Port Blair- Mainland sector. This has left family members of the patients confused and frustrated.
When Andaman Sheekha investigated to know the reason behind not allowing the stretcher patients to travel, it came to light that the private airlines currently operating in Andaman Sector (which are very few in count due to CORONA) are lacking seats, as the flights are full.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Someshwar Rao questioned that unlike Air India why private airlines are not flying by keeping some seats empty for patients? Mr. Someshwar requested the Andaman administration to take a call on this as serious patients are struggling.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted a senior officer of the Civil Aviation, A & N Islands, he said that there are no such restrictions on private airlines for carrying stretcher patients, however, he said that there are certain procedures that a patient’s family members have to follow in private airlines.
He said that for the stretcher patient, he/she must book his ticket via the airline’s call center 72 hours before boarding the flight and inform them of their requirements, as this enables the airline to arrange the stretcher accordingly.
“Air India is carrying the stretcher patients because they have a manager sitting here, who has the power to make decisions quickly, which the staffs of private airlines do not have here in the Port Blair station,” the senior officer added.
Whatever might be the reason, the Administration and local leaders must intervene into this matter together and ask the private airlines to post atleast on senior staff at Port Blair, who can take a call on this issue and do all necessary arrangements for stretcher patients. After all people in need are ready to pay for the seats and no one is asking free tickets. For emergency medical cases delay of even one hour might also kill a patient and hence this issue must be taken seriously by both administration and local public leaders.
Infact the Administration must take up with the Ministry and request to keep an Air Ambulance standby in Chennai or Kolkata for Andaman Patients, which will certainly save many lives.
