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Times of India
24 February 2009
Mumbai, India

Quick Response: The Asian Heart Institute wants to provide air ambulance services to patients in Mumbai and neighbouring cities Quick Response: The Asian Heart Institute wants to provide air ambulance services to patients in Mumbai and neighbouring cities
If the BMC wishes, cardiac care in the city can soon get a boost. The Asian Heart Institute (AHI) will apply to the civic body for permission to construct a helipad on its building. If sanctioned, the hospital in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) will be the first in the city to get a helipad.

“While we don’t yet have a helipad at our institute since the BMC sanctioned them very recently, we have already begun looking at the structural details of our building to apply for the construction of one,’’ said director of Asian Heart Institute, Dr Ramakant Panda.

The institute has tied up with Bafna Aviations to provide air ambulance services to patients in Mumbai as well as in neighbouring cities. The service was inaugurated by Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss and actor Akshay Kumar on Monday. Maharashtra governor S C Jamir was also present on the occasion.

In times of heart-related emergencies, Mumbaikars can also dial 126126 for help and ambulance service. The 24x7 helpline will ensure an ambulance reaches your doorstep within 30 minutes. The hospital has tied up with ambulance provider 1298.

“They have a fleet of 37 vehicles that are strategically located across the city. The ambulance will reach a patient’s doorstep within 30 minutes of a phone call and during the night we hope to reduce it to 15 minutes,’’ said Panda.

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