By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

THE commonwealth cannot immediately airlift incapacitated patients overseas because the islands’ only hospital has no portable oxygen — a requirement of international airlines before airlifting very sick passengers.
According to House Resolution 15-110 authored by Rep. Ray N. Yumul, Ind.-Saipan, the Commonwealth Health Center does not have all the necessary equipment to help patients who have to be flown to off-island hospitals.
CHC, however, does have an infant transportation system for use on a Boeing 767.
Yumul said airlines require portable oxygen for very sick passengers because most aircraft are highly pressurized when they fly above 8,000 feet.
H.R. 15-110, which was adopted during a session on Wednesday, urges Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to explore all possible options for improving the islands’ emergency medical air evacuation system.
“This inability to assist certain incapacitated passengers means that the CNMI cannot send medical referral patients through Guam to another destination for treatment,” H.R. 15-110 stated.
It added, “Continental Micronesia currently offers direct flights to Manila, Philippines, only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which could further exacerbate a critically ill patient’s condition should that patient be forced to wait until the next available flight.”
A two-year-old boy suffering from kidney failure and pneumonia recently experienced difficulty in getting immediate treatment due to problems with air transportation.
Yumul said the boy got help from the U.S. military which sent an aircraft from Africa to fly the boy to Hawaii.
“The combined efforts of the child’s insurance provider, Staywell Insurance, in adjusting the referral to Hawaii, and the CHC Medical Referral Office in locating a military aircraft…willing to fly the child to Hawaii resulted in the transportation of the child —the next patient may not be as fortunate,” said Yumul.