Air Ambulance Service Completes Over 60 Flights in Debut Month

The Maldivian Air Ambulance Service, operated by the national airline Maldivian, has reported conducting more than 60 flights within its inaugural month of operation.

Commencing its services on March 1st, the initiative initially deployed a Dash-8 aircraft to facilitate the transportation of 25 patients. However, as of March 15th, the service transitioned to employing seaplanes equipped with advanced medical facilities to enhance emergency evacuation capabilities.

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This collaborative endeavour involves the International Air Medical Services Limited (IASL), the Ministry of Health, the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), and the government’s Aasandha healthcare insurance scheme. IASL has underscored the utilization of DHC-6 Twin Otter seaplanes, citing their superior safety and reliability in emergency medical transportation.

According to Maldivian officials, a total of 66 evacuations were carried out during the air ambulance service’s inaugural month. These evacuations primarily aimed to swiftly transport patients requiring urgent medical attention to Malayalam.

Previously, patients in emergencies were transported on Maldivian scheduled flights or via helicopter assistance from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), lacking dedicated arrangements for such services within the government.

The introduction of the air ambulance service marks a significant milestone as Maldives’ first air-based patient transportation initiative. Notably, meticulous preparations preceded its launch, with two specially designed aircraft poised for immediate deployment throughout service hours.

A dedicated team of 15 personnel, comprising doctors, nurses, and emergency medical technicians, has undergone comprehensive training to ensure the seamless provision of air ambulance services.

The deployment of seaplanes serves the critical purpose of extending medical assistance to islands lacking conventional runway infrastructure. These seaplanes operate from ports adhering to specified standards for ship access, facilitating swift response to medical emergencies across the Maldives.