Air passengers often ignore medical advice

Two deaths were reported on Indian airports within twenty-four hours last week. One of them was reported at Mumbai.

It was alleged that medical aid came late.

Such incidents are increasing over the last two years and coincide with the number of people travelling by air. With low cost airlines in India and the growing importance of India as a destination for business and travel, there are reports of how the infrastructure at airports is groaning under the strain of too many people utilising limited facilities.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) levies a stiff airport tax for various services to air travellers. These include clean toilets, a lounge and trolleys for luggage.

For some reason, the question of setting up medical facilities for passengers, who either fall sick before, during or after travel never seems to have occurred to the AAI.

Prolonged sitting at one place leads to potentially fatal conditions like Deep Vein Thrombosis, pressurisation effects on the ears and stress effects on those suffering from claustrophobia.

People with chronic, serious diseases like heart conditions, asthma are especially at risk while taking long flights. Hence the standard mandates to get a medical checkup before boarding a flight. Consumers often ignore medical advice and fly either without going through a health checkup or take things into their own hands.

Work pressure or the need to meet loved ones makes a person undertake hazardous journeys under the impression “it’s just for a few hours and nothing will happen”.

AAI should provide clinics at airports for testing blood pressure or blood sugar for a small price. The number of clinics must be in proportion to the population going through the airport and the signage of toilets, trolleys and information must show where medical aid is available.