The Indian Airforce (IAF) successfully tested portable hospital cubes Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) for the first time in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on May 14, 2024. The test aimed to assess the capability of portable hospitals to be deployed across the country during emergencies. Weighing about 720 kg, the portable hospital was dropped from 1500 feet using specially designed parachutes by the Air Delivery Research and Development establishment (ADRDE) in Agra.
In a post on X, the IAF said, “An IAF C-130 Hercules aircraft did a trial drop of Arogya Maitri Disaster Brick. An innovation aiding swift disaster relief by being paradropped these bricks contain essential survival materials for disaster struck locations unreachable by other means.”
The trials were undertaken in coordination with an Army Para Field Hospital was witnessed by Air Marshal Rajesh Vaidya, DGMS (Air) Chairman of the Arogya Maitri Task Force and the accurate drop ensured no damage to the contents marking a successful landing.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the cubes are part of Project BHISHM which can treat up to 200 casualties and focus on swift response and comprehensive care. The release said, “The Aid Cube is equipped with several innovation tools designed to enhance the disaster response and medical support to the emergencies. It integrated Artificial Intelligence and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real time monitoring and efficient management of medical services in the field.”
It consists of two master cages each of which has 36 mini cubes. Each unit contains 72 components that can be easily transported and are extremely flexible as they can be carried by hand, cycles and drones. During mass casualty incidents varying from basic aid to advanced medical and surgical care the Aid Cube can be deployed in just 12 minutes. This is vital as it closes the critical time gap from initial care to definitive care, potentially saving lives during initial hours in case of emergencies.
It hosts medical amenities like an operation theatre, X ray machines, blood testing devices, ventilators, and equipment to treat injuries like gunshot wounds, burns, fractures as well as severe bleeding. Each unit has essentials like a compact generator, stretchers, modular medical gear, medications and food supplies. It uses solar energy and batteries for sustainability, a media agency reported.
The BHISHM cubes are waterproof and light weight and have been designed with various configurations in mind making them ideal for emergencies. They can be deployed anywhere through airdrops or ground transportations.
The release added, ‘Advanced medical equipment, RFID tagged for efficient repacking and deployment is a key feature of the cube. The state-of-the-art BHISHM software system integrated into provided tablet allows operators to locate items quickly, monitor their usage and expiry and ensure readiness for subsequent deployments.
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