HEALTHCARE

Patients from war-torn Yemen land up in Delhi hospital

rockland-hosp Dr Shamsheer Vayalil (mid black coat) Chairman and Managing Director, VPS Rockland Hospitals, with his team of doctors who have been treating a group of over 50 patients from Yemen | Arvind Jain

In the last 24 hours, they have crossed 3,000 km on board an "ICU in the air". Fifty patients from conflict-ridden Yemen landed at the Rockland Hospital in Delhi to access treatment for injuries inflicted by the conflict that began in 2015. 

According to the United Nations, at least 10,000 people have been killed in the war between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition supporting the government in Yemen. The deadly conflict has given rise to a grave healthcare crisis—even as residents are falling victim to airstrikes, landmines and snipers, access to treatment is being compromised because hospitals are being attacked and supplies of medicines are being affected, according to a report by Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organisation.

Doctors at the Rockland Hospital in Delhi's Qutab Institutional Area described the evacuation operation —from boarding the C-130 Hercules, a special military aircraft, to the hospital bed in India—as a "marathon" event. The hospital made several arrangements prior to their arrival, including a digital transfer of medical records and hiring translators. 

"The patients are suffering from critical injuries, complex wounds, fractures, sepsis and burns, among other ailments. They were transported from the airport in 55 ambulances. Logistically, we had to take great care so that there was no lapse of treatment between deboarding the 'ICU on air' and reaching the hospitals," said Dr Tamorish Kole, Chairman, Institute of Emergency Medicine at Rockland Hospital. 

Speaking about the evacuation, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director, VPS Rockland Hospitals said that the patients were brought to the hospitals in Delhi and Manesar as part of the UAE-based VPS healthcare group's  "corporate social responsibility" initiative with Emirates Red Crescent, a humanitarian organisation. 

"We want to reach out to people from all walks of life, including those who can not afford treatment," said Vayalil, the Kerala-born radiologist, and son-in-law of Gulf billionaire M.A. Yusuff Ali. 

Vayalil, who is based out of UAE , also said that while medical tourism was booming in the country, it was important that the Indian government created a single window clearance system for quick visas, and a platform for medical tourists' several needs such as affordable accommodation.  

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Topics : #Healthcare | #Yemen

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