Dubai-based airline Emirates has introduced a cutting-edge telemedicine station in collaboration with Parsys Telemedicine, allowing passengers to receive real-time medical care while onboard. The airline has invested over $2.4 million in co-developing the system, which will be rolled out across 300 aircraft in the coming years.
The new system includes high-definition video conferencing, remote health assessments, secure data transmission, and a 12-lead ECG feature. With these advancements, Emirates’ highly trained cabin crew can provide immediate medical support and consult with ground-based doctors during emergencies.
The telemedicine kit, integrated with the Parsys Cloud platform, enables cabin crew to gather passengers’ vital signs—such as oxygen levels, blood pressure, and heart activity—and transmit them instantly to Emirates’ Ground Medical Support team, available 24/7 at its Dubai headquarters. The Bluetooth-enabled Medcapture© device eliminates the need for manual note-taking, ensuring accurate and swift medical responses.
The system has already proven life-saving. On a recent flight to Lyon, France, a passenger experiencing cardiovascular distress received immediate care, with vital signs relayed to ground-based medical professionals. Real-time guidance allowed the crew to stabilize the passenger until landing.
Emirates’ cabin crew undergo rigorous medical training to manage inflight emergencies, including CPR, defibrillator use, and childbirth assistance.
