PAL taps US-based MedAire for inflight medical services

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL), jointly owned by taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), has tapped US-based MedAire to provide round-the-clock access medical advice to passengers and crew of long-haul international flights.

MedAire would provide PAL access to advice and assistance from emergency physicians stationed at its MedLink Global Response Center based at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Phoenix-based MedLink medical assistance is available from anywhere in the world using the existing communications system of PAL aircraft.

MedAire’s MedLink doctors are available 24 hours a day to help manage in-flight medical situations as well as provide pre-flight medical guidance on whether an ill passenger is fit to fly.

With the partnership, PAL pilots and cabin crew could contact the MedLink center and communicate with a specialist physician via the aircraft’s satellite phone, HF/VHF radio or ACARS system during an in-flight emergency.

The MedAire doctor assesses the situation, guides the crew or volunteer in providing emergency care to the patient and, depending on the severity of the illness, may recommend for or against a flight diversion.

Paulo Alves, MedAire’s global medical director of aviation, said medical volunteers are often helpful to assist the MedAire MedLink physician.

“But remember, volunteers are passengers first – and, depending on their specialty background, may not have the appropriate qualifications to assist the passenger or make a confident decision should they be asked whether they recommend a diversion,” Alves said.

 â€œWith MedAire, PAL’s flight crews now have direct access to emergency-room physicians at a Level One trauma center who can draw on the extensive medical resources available and then provide specific guidance on the case at hand. The flag carrier’s partnership with MedAire is most valuable as medical advice is made available at any point during a flight,” PAL said.

MedLink physicians have immediate knowledge of the medical equipment on the aircraft, the medications available, and their location within the medical kit. In addition, should a diversion be recommended, MedAire assists the pilot and operations center in determining the most medically appropriate diversion location based on the passenger’s medical needs.