Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 12 March 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has made an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Health and Family Welfare Minister, and Minister of Civil Aviation for immediate intervention to address the severe healthcare deficiencies and medical evacuation challenges in the islands.
In his letter, Mr. Ray highlighted the critical lack of healthcare infrastructure in the remote Andaman & Nicobar Islands, particularly for life-threatening medical conditions such as brain hemorrhage, strokes, severe head injuries, and spinal fractures. He noted that GB Pant Hospital, the sole medical facility in the islands, frequently refers patients to mainland hospitals in Chennai, Kolkata, Vizag, and Delhi due to the unavailability of neurosurgeons and other essential specialists.
Despite these challenges, government support for emergency medical evacuations remains inadequate. Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY), only the airfare for a patient and one attendant is covered upon the recommendation of a referring doctor. Families are left to bear the exorbitant cost of Rs. 3 to 4 lakh for air stretcher evacuations. Furthermore, accessing air stretcher services is hindered by the reluctance of airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, to accommodate emergency medical transport on Sri Vijaya Puram-mainland routes.
Mr. Ray also pointed out that airline delays in confirming stretcher bookings—sometimes up to 10 days—along with unreasonable conditions such as requiring booking confirmations within 20 minutes and unpredictable pricing, have led to preventable deaths. He criticized the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for failing to take proactive measures over the past five years, despite repeated appeals from islanders. He also held the Lt. Governor accountable for the lack of improvements in the healthcare sector.
Given the urgency of the situation, Mr. Ray has proposed several immediate measures:
1 Urgent Meeting with Airlines: Direct all airlines operating on Sri Vijaya Puram-mainland routes to prioritize emergency stretcher requests, prevent delays or denials, and establish a standardized minimum rate for stretcher patients and air ambulance services.
2 Prioritization of Medical Emergencies: Ensure airlines give precedence to critically ill patients over regular passengers, emphasizing that refusal of air stretcher services is an ethical and public health concern.
3 Financial Assistance Scheme: Implement a fully government-funded financial aid program for stretcher patients and air ambulance services, as the Ayushman Bharat Scheme does not cover these emergency expenses.
4 Appointment of a Nodal Officer: Designate an official within the A&N Administration to coordinate between airlines and facilitate the immediate transfer of critical patients from Sri Vijaya Puram to the mainland.
Mr. Ray urged the Prime Minister and other concerned Union Ministers to act swiftly to prevent further loss of innocent lives. The appeal underscores the pressing need for systemic reforms in the region’s healthcare and medical evacuation framework.