Indian Air Force acquires tent-based medical facilities

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has acquired tent-based medical facilities that can be airlifted to establish a 25-bed hospital at any disaster site within 24 hours.

“Earlier we used to put up normal tents on iron rods to run our emergency hospitals,” an IAF officer told the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). “With the new system, we can set up a 25-bed air-conditioned hospital within 24 hours at any disaster site. This 40-ton shelter can be airlifted to the nearest airfield and moved to the disaster site.”

The tent hospital will have an intensive care unit and an operating theater. “[It] will provide resuscitation, life and limb saving surgery before evacuation to other hospitals,” the officer added.