International Critical-care Air Transfer Team (ICATT), which provides air ambulance services in India, will procure 788 air ambulances from ePlane, which was incubated in IIT Madras, to ensure rapid medical intervention across districts in the country. The actual commercials of the transaction will be mutually agreed between the companies closer to the delivery dates, with a total value upwards of $1 billion, says a release.
The MoU outlines the procurement of one air ambulance per district, making it the single largest initial agreement in the eVTOL industry from a customer. Given the dynamic nature of administrative boundaries, this number will be adjusted as needed to ensure comprehensive coverage across India.
This initiative could revolutionise emergency medical response in India. The country recorded approximately 463 deaths per day in road accidents in 2022. The overwhelming demand for faster medical transport solutions is further highlighted by the national 108 emergency helpline, which receives between 3,000 to 4,000 calls per day per state.
Through this partnership, ICATT aims to build India’s most extensive air ambulance network, ensuring that no critical patient is left without access to life-saving care due to geographical barriers. ICATT will offer its technical insights and operational expertise to ensure ePlane’s aircraft meets the e-air-ambulance mission standards. This initiative seeks to significantly reduce response times for the transport of patients, organs, life saving medicines & medical equipment, particularly in rural and accident-prone areas.
ePlane’s flagship aircraft, the e200x is an ultra-compact, highly efficient eVTOL offering safe, affordable, and sustainable air transport, capable of landing and taking off in tight spaces. With a wingspan of only 8m, the aircraft can take off from roof tops or a roadside field, the e200x can transport patients 7x times faster than on-road vehicles. eVTOL stands for ‘electric Vertical Take Off and Landing,’ says a release by ePlane, which was founded by Prof Satya Chakravarthy in 2019.
Shalini Nalwad, Founder, ICATT, in the release said, this initiative is going to be a very good solution in terms of organ air-lifts. Nearly 95 per cent of the registered patient recipients die before they get an organ. This is purely because of the lack of logistics, not due to lack of donors. This collaboration is going to solve this problem and redefine access to healthcare in India. ICATT was founded in 2017 by Dr Rahul Singh Sardar and Dr Shalini Nalwad, trained anaesthetists and critical care specialists, who worked in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
“By deploying air ambulances at scale, we aim to enhance emergency response capabilities, ensure faster critical care access, and bridge the gap between accident sites and advanced medical facilities, ultimately reducing fatalities and improving healthcare accessibility,” said Chakravarthy in the release.
