Emirates launches inflight virtual medical services

UAE – Emirates, the flagship carrier of the United Arab Emirates, is set to transform onboard passenger care by partnering with French telehealth company Parsys Telemedicine.

The collaboration introduces innovative “telemedicine stations” on select Emirates aircraft, enabling virtual medical services while in flight.

This strategic initiative represents a significant investment in passenger health and safety, with Emirates committing over US $2.4 million to co-design these state-of-the-art telemedicine stations.

The newly developed Parsys Telemedicine Kit for Emirates is designed to empower cabin crew to perform real-time remote assessments.

Each portable station is equipped with high-definition video conferencing capabilities, ensuring clear communication between onboard staff and Emirates’ Ground Medical Support.

This support team, composed of experienced medical professionals available around the clock at Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai, receives patient information directly during flight.

The telemedicine stations are outfitted with an array of diagnostic tools, including a pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor, thermometer, glucometer, and a 12-leads Telecardia ECG.

These devices work in unison to capture vital health metrics from passengers, which are then automatically transmitted to the medical support team via a dedicated Medcapture device tablet.

The tablet operates using the Parsys Cloud, a secure digital platform that guarantees the handling of medical data in full compliance with international data protection regulations.

Already operational on several Emirates flights, the telemedicine stations are part of a phased rollout plan, with plans to install the equipment on 300 aircraft over the coming years.

This initiative is a noteworthy example of how airlines are increasingly leveraging digital health solutions to provide immediate medical support.

In recent years, other carriers have followed suit; for instance, Delta Air Lines partnered with Arizona-based MedAire to implement MedLink, a system that offers direct access to a team of doctors via a mobile app on Delta SkyPro devices.

Additionally, Air New Zealand has explored the use of virtual reality-based exposure therapy with Christchurch-based oVRcome to help alleviate the fear of flying among passengers.

These developments highlight a broader industry trend toward incorporating innovative telehealth solutions to improve the overall passenger experience.