Keeping medical flights afloat during the ongoing COVID-19 spread is turning out to be an uphill task for most air ambulance companies. Several issues that were never thought of before are surfacing now. Shortage is a word that is widespread in the industry today. We take a look at some of the issues that are hindering the functioning of the industry.
Professionals Being Moved Away from Medical Flights
The shortage of frontline, qualified medical staff is a well-known problem in the current scenario. No amount of frontline medical workers is proving enough to tackle the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Obviously, staff serving medical flights is being called to fill this deficit. The development is quite understandable, but it is certainly hindering the air ambulance services.
Lack of Adequate Medical Flights
COVID-19 has given too little time for medical flights to adapt. Isolation facilities are not good enough to carry infected patients in most medical flights. Employing these can, no doubt, put the frontline workers at risk of contracting the highly contagious infection.
Lack of Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment is essential if emergency workers are to function seamlessly. However, every country around the world is currently facing a shortage of these. This is a huge roadblock.
Fall in Emergency Cases
The lockdown that is being followed in almost all countries around the world has translated into less road traffic, and as a consequence, MVAs have gone down. Also, it is not easy for people to procure illicit substances, so related cases have also gone down. There is, therefore, a slight slump in demand, which is quite welcome.
Once the world goes back to normal, it is expected that the medical flights too will be able to function normally. Until then, the industry will function as efficiently as possible given the constraints.
