KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — The flying doctor services (FDS) operation will continue despite yesterday’s helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Sarawak, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said there was no need to suspend the service as it played an important role in ensuring access to healthcare services, particularly for communities in rural areas.
“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 here today.
Also present at the press conference were Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab and deputy health director-general (Public Health) Dr Ismuni Bohari.
Elaborating on FDS operations, Dzulkefly said the Ministry of Health (MOH) did not own its own helicopter assets to operate the service, but instead provided it through a contractual leasing arrangement that also covered maintenance.
