About Us
HEMS, the Association of Czech Non-Governmental Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Operators, was established in November 2001. The main aim of the HEMS Association is to improve the quality, efficiency and professional level of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in the Czech Republic.
Its founders are two private operators of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services; DSA a.s. based in Prague and Alfa-Helicopter s r.o. based in Brno, operating a total of six HEMS bases from the ten bases in the Czech Republic, and covering 60 % of the Czech Republic.
In establishing the Association of Non-Governmental Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Operators, the Czech Republic has followed the model of forward-looking countries in Europe. Through this, a platform for closer international cooperation in this field has been established, even before the Czech Republic’s entry to the European Union.
HEMS has provided a basis for cooperation between its members regarding HEMS night operations and flight/medical crew training. The HEMS Association members regularly organise joint intervention training in inaccessible terrain and have formed specialized teams skilled in carrying out these types of operations, in particular with the aid of rope-based climbing techniques. Pilots, medical staff and other units of the Integrated Emergency Services are all involved in these training activities.
Through its other interests, the HEMS Association actively seeks to establish contact with countries surrounding the Czech Republic. This is mainly in response to the EU’s programme in the sphere of cross-border cooperation, namely with companies also operating HEMS in the border areas of our neighbouring countries.
