Maldives expands Air Ambulance Service to Thailand and UAE
The Maldives has officially expanded its air ambulance services to include medical transfers to Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enabling patients to access urgent care abroad more efficiently.
The agreement was signed on Sunday at the Ministry of Health by three parties: the Health Ministry, Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL), and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).
The Health Ministry was represented by Deputy Minister Ahmed Hamdhaan Naseer, IASL by Managing Director Ibrahim Iyaas, and NSPA by its Chief Executive Officer, Heena Waleed.
Health Minister Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim said the agreement removes all legal and procedural barriers to sending patients overseas for emergency treatment.
Taking into account the special circumstances faced by patients requiring overseas treatment, this arrangement ensures there are no legal or administrative obstacles to providing urgent health services in other countries. “With this new system, the process within the NSPA has also been streamlined, which is a great step forward for patient welfare.
Minister Nazim said at the signing ceremony.
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen described the initiative as an important enhancement to the country’s emergency response capacity.
It is essential that we are prepared to handle medical emergencies, especially when transportation across the islands can be challenging,Under this agreement, IASL is ready to operate aircraft equipped with modern medical facilities capable of providing critical care during transfer.
Minister Ameen said
Island Aviation officials confirmed that the service will be provided through authorised operators using fully equipped aircraft that meet international standards.
The air ambulance service was first launched on 1 March last year to strengthen the Maldives’ emergency treatment system.
Initially operated with a dedicated Dash-8 aircraft, the service now also employs a seaplane to reach remote areas.
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