The Health Ministry will continue operating its flying doctor services (FDS) despite yesterday’s helicopter crash near Long Lellang, Sarawak, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
He said the service remains important in providing healthcare access to rural communities and there is no need to suspend its operations.
“We will continue. There is no need (to suspend the service). The FDS provides universal health coverage, so we will continue and strengthen it,” he said at a press conference today.
Dzulkefly said the Ministry of Health (MOH) does not own helicopters for FDS operations, instead relying on contracted helicopter leasing arrangements that also include maintenance.
He added that the ministry takes into account technical and aviation safety input from the relevant authorities before deciding on the use of helicopter assets.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab said every helicopter movement must comply with established safety procedures before permission to fly is granted.
“Whether permission to fly is granted or not is subject to approval by the relevant agencies, not the MOH,” he said.
FDS operations include scheduled services for rural communities as well as emergency medical evacuation (medevac) missions for critically ill patients. Mahathar said medevac flights would continue when urgently needed, subject to flight approval, safety assessments and weather conditions.
For scheduled services, however, the MOH will review operations and provide input to teams on the ground when necessary.
A pilot and four MOH personnel died after the BO-105 helicopter carrying out FDS duties crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport in Ulu Baram yesterday.
