Airmed 2002 will take place at Interlaken, Switzerland this year from September 17 to 20. The air-medical world congress will be organised by REGA (the Swiss national air rescue organisation), which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. “To mark this jubilee the congress has been brought to Switzerland. On average the congress meets every three to four years and each time a different body organises Airmed in a non-profit making capacity,” said Walter Stunzi, PR and marketing manager for REGA.

This international congress on the subject of air rescue and air medical transport met for the first time in 1980 in Munich, then in Zurich in 1984 and subsequently went on to a variety of venues including Boston and Sydney. The event generally attracts between 500 and 800 participants and attempts to incorporate every person involved in air medical transport, from the doctor down.

“There are three main categories of issues, all of which are under the supervision of a scientific committee. The first is medicine, the second operations and the third is economics and law. The industry exhibition is another part of the event, where there are between 25 and 30 exhibitors along with around 120 speakers from scientific backgrounds,” said Stunzi.

Brazil was the original location chosen for the next Airmed, but it is still uncertain whether it can be organised. “They are still looking for a sponsor, so maybe it will happen in Spain. But this will be clarified by the time of Airmed 2002,” he added.