BEAR-Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval

09/08/2026

A seamless BEAR Team - Drukair Helicopter Services collaboration when the roads were inaccessible to the ground ambulance.

01/06/2026

Today, we celebrate 9 years of the Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval (BEAR) Team.

Over the past nine years, our team has undertaken more than 750 medical evacuation missions, reaching patients from every corner of the country when they needed us most. Behind each mission is a story of teamwork, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to bringing critical care closer to those in need.

Our proudest achievements is receiving the Druk Thuksey from His Majesty The King. More than an award, it remains our deepest source of motivation and responsibility. It reminds us every day of the trust placed in us and the duty we carry each time we are called to serve.

As we mark this milestone, we celebrate not only the journeys we have made, but also the people who have made them possible—our team members, past and present, our partners, and the countless well-wishers who have supported us along the way.

Here's to nine years of service, and to many more ahead.

04/04/2026

As part of the clinical meeting today, we were honored to have Dr Dinesh Pradhan, Neonatologist, join us to share pearls on preventing hypothermia and delivering effective neonatal ventilation.

Hypothermia in neonates can have devastating consequences, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality. The majority of neonates we airlift present with respiratory distress and require timely and effective ventilatory support.

We are also deeply grateful to receive an Embrace Warmer and a Murk’s Oxyflow device, which provides both PEEP and PIP during mechanical ventilation. These vital additions to our service were made possible through generous support from UNICEF Bhutan.

Strengthening our skills and equipping our team with the right tools ensures we continue to provide safe, high-quality care to our most vulnerable patients.

UNICEF Bhutan

🐻🇧🇹🚁

17/12/2025

The Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval Team joins the nation in celebrating the auspicious 118th National Day of Bhutan. On this joyous occasion, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to delivering timely, compassionate, and high-quality emergency medical care wherever and whenever it is needed.

May our beloved country continue to be blessed with peace and unity under the benevolent guidance of the Wangchuck Dynasty.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝟏𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧. 𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧.

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐤!

Tandin Wangchuk

04/12/2025

A 33-year-old woman in obstructed labour at Tashichoeling Hospital was planned for transfer to JDWNRH in anticipation of NICU support for her baby. Upon the BEAR Team’s arrival, she was found to be fully dilated and crowning.

Given the urgency and with weather conditions making a longer transfer to JDWNRH less ideal, the team diverted to Samtse, where a paediatrician is available. As the helicopter touched down, our team safely delivered a healthy baby boy on board. The newborn required minimal stimulation before achieving full APGAR scores.

Both mother and baby are doing well and are currently receiving care at Samtse General Hospital. This marks the second successful in-flight delivery by the BEAR Team.