Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the presentation of the Bhishma Cube to Ukraine, in Kyiv on August 23, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said on Friday (August 23, 2024) that India has Bhishma Cubes, which contain medical aid equipment 22 tonne truck, with 10 generator sets.
The presentation of the India Health Initiative for Cooperation, Benefit and Friendship (BHISHM) cubes has been one of the major highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to India. War-torn Ukraine.
Bheeshma Cubes, also known as Arokya Maitri Cubes, are critical trauma care cubes indigenously developed by Project Bheeshma under Project Arogya Maitri.
Led by HLL Life Care, the government-nominated agency to supply the kits, and built around multiple vendors collaborating to provide a diverse range of essential medical products, the project was initiated in 2022 through the Ministry of Defence.
Bhishma Cubes is an easy-to-use, mobile medical facility that can be rapidly deployed to save lives in the most challenging situations. It can provide critical medical care to up to 100 survivors for up to 48 hours, making it a lifeline in remote and difficult terrains where immediate medical attention is required.
According to the report, the Assistance Cube is equipped with several new tools designed to enhance medical assistance during disaster response and emergency situations. It integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real-time monitoring and efficient management of medical services in the field.
Each cube has a fully equipped operation theatre, mini-ICU, ventilators, blood-testing equipment, an X-ray machine and even a cooking station. It also includes a shelter facility and power generator, making it completely self-sufficient during emergencies.
The life saving equipment is packed in a set of “mini-cubes” and the combination of these mini-cubes is used to set up a mobile hospital capable of performing life saving surgeries. The mini-cubes are carried in an “Arogya Maitri Cube Cage” which consists of three frames, each containing 12 mini-cubes. A total of 36 mini-cubes can fit in one Arogya Maitri Cube Cage.
Earlier, the central government in collaboration with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army had carried out a first-of-its-kind precision para-drop operation of the Arogya Maitri Health Cube at an altitude of close to 15,000 feet on August 17, 2024. It was also deployed in Ayodhya for the inauguration ceremony, ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the Ram Mandir on January 22.
India has already gifted these units to Sri Lanka and Myanmar as a goodwill gesture.