Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Nepal: Current Challenges and Pathways to Improvement

Q3 Nursing

Air Medical Journal Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-05-05 DOI:10.1016/j.amj.2026.04.003

Callum Bayliss MBChB, Sameep Singh MBBS, Pritina Nakarmi MBBS, Mirab Singh MBBS, Summer Jung Singh MBBS, Raju Rana Magar MD, Surendra Poudel Capt., Nishant Dhakal MD, Shruti Thapa MA, Rupesh Yadav MBBS, Sanjaya Karki MBBS, MD, DAvMed

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provide rapid evacuation of critically ill and injured patients, overcoming the limitations of ground transport in regions with challenging terrain, poor infrastructure, or traffic congestion. In Nepal, mountainous landscapes and dispersed populations make HEMS a vital component of the health care system since its formal introduction in 2013.

This study aimed to review the current state of HEMS in Nepal, highlighting operational benefits, key challenges, and potential strategies to enhance service efficiency, safety, and accessibility.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted using national and international literature, operational reports, and available data on HEMS in Nepal. Challenges were analyzed across financial, infrastructural, logistical, and human resource domains.

Results

HEMS significantly reduces evacuation times and facilitates access to multidisciplinary medical teams, improving outcomes in time-critical conditions such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, and obstetric emergencies. However, service delivery is constrained by high operational costs, reliance on private commercial helicopters, limited trained personnel and pilots, centralized communication systems, pilot fatigue, and hazards from mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather. These barriers particularly affect patient access in remote regions.

Conclusion

Although HEMS has markedly enhanced prehospital care in Nepal, systemic limitations hinder its full potential. Strategic investment in dedicated medical helicopters, decentralized operational bases, workforce development, and supportive policy frameworks is essential to improve timely access, reduce preventable mortality, and strengthen Nepal’s emergency medical system.

查看原文本刊更多论文

尼泊尔的直升机紧急医疗服务：当前的挑战和改进途径。

目的：直升机紧急医疗服务（HEMS）提供重症和受伤患者的快速后送，克服地形复杂、基础设施差或交通拥堵地区地面运输的局限性。在尼泊尔，山区地形和分散的人口使医疗急救系统自2013年正式引入以来成为医疗保健系统的重要组成部分。本研究旨在回顾尼泊尔医疗急救系统的现状，强调运营效益、主要挑战以及提高服务效率、安全性和可及性的潜在策略。方法：采用国内和国际文献、业务报告和尼泊尔医疗急救系统的现有数据进行叙述性回顾。我们分析了金融、基础设施、物流和人力资源领域的挑战。结果：HEMS显著缩短了疏散时间，促进了多学科医疗团队的进入，改善了时间紧迫的情况（如创伤、中风、心肌梗死和产科急诊）的结果。然而，由于运营成本高、对私人商用直升机的依赖、训练有素的人员和飞行员有限、集中通信系统、飞行员疲劳以及山区地形和不可预测天气的危害，服务的提供受到了限制。这些障碍尤其影响到偏远地区患者的获取。结论：尽管HEMS在尼泊尔显著提高了院前护理，但系统限制阻碍了其充分发挥潜力。对专用医疗直升机、分散运营基地、劳动力发展和支持性政策框架的战略投资对于改善及时获取、减少可预防的死亡率和加强尼泊尔的紧急医疗系统至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Air Medical Journal Nursing-Emergency Nursing

CiteScore

1.20

自引率

0.00%

发文量

112

审稿时长

69 days

期刊介绍： Air Medical Journal is the official journal of the five leading air medical transport associations in the United States. AMJ is the premier provider of information for the medical transport industry, addressing the unique concerns of medical transport physicians, nurses, pilots, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, communication specialists, and program administrators. The journal contains practical how-to articles, debates on controversial industry issues, legislative updates, case studies, and peer-reviewed original research articles covering all aspects of the medical transport profession.