Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla is taking a transformative step toward improving emergency healthcare with its plan to set up a dedicated helipad for patient airlifting.
This initiative will enable critically ill individuals to be swiftly transferred to advanced medical centres across India for specialised treatments.
Sambalpur Sadar tehsildar Manoj Kujur confirmed that land selection for the helipad is complete, and VIMSAR superintendent Dr. Lalmohan Nayak emphasised that the long-awaited project is gaining momentum.
Once operational, patients requiring urgent medical interventions, such as cancer care or cardiac surgeries, will be transported to leading hospitals in cities including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai. VIMSAR will become the first government hospital in Odisha to provide helicopter-based emergency evacuation services.
Dr. Nayak highlighted that around four to five patients per month, suffering from severe conditions, are referred to other medical institutions due to the lack of immediate air transport facilities. With the upcoming helipad, response times in medical emergencies will significantly improve, potentially saving numerous lives.
This helipad marks a milestone in Odisha’s healthcare infrastructure, setting a new standard for emergency patient transfers and bridging the gap between critical care and swift access to advanced treatment.
