KUALA LUMPUR: The five lives lost on Tuesday’s Sarawak helicopter crash must be a turning point for preventive measures, says Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo.
In a statement yesterday, he said that no healthcare worker should be sent by air, land or sea without proper training, transparent safety assurance and protection for the family waiting for them to return.
“Those sent to save lives must never be asked to surrender their own protection as a condition of service.
“This crash was not the first warning, as a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crashed in Cameron Highlands in 2022, seriously injuring personnel.
“Further emergency landings involving FDS operations were reported in Sabah in 2024 and Sarawak last year.
“Ambulance accidents are not isolated events as well,” he said, adding that police data showed an average of 129 ambulance accidents annually across five years, including nine fatal incidents.
Dr Thirunavukarasu said doctors, nurses, medical officers, ambulance drivers and patients had been killed or seriously injured.
He was referring to the FDS helicopter crash near Long Lellang, Sarawak, which claimed the lives of pilot Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30; Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and staff nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44.
He said these incidents must no longer be treated separately.
“The RM30 Air Health Service incentive was introduced in 1978 and remains unchanged.
“This allowance is not insurance and cannot compensate for death or permanent disability,” he said, urging for a review but also pointing out that a higher allowance alone does not make an unsafe mission any safer.
He also urged the Federal Government to ensure that only verified and safe transportation which is airworthy, roadworthy, seaworthy and fit for the intended mission is used to transport healthcare workers – not just because it is the only available vehicle or contractually obligated.
“Its age, maintenance history, safety certification, emergency equipment and suitability for the terrain and weather conditions must be properly assessed,” he said.
He said essential services cannot operate on the assumption that healthcare workers must accept every risk placed before them.
“Healthcare aviation must be treated as a clinical service, not an aviation contract that carries healthcare workers.
“Clinical requirements must determine the aircraft, medical equipment, staffing, training and operating procedures.
“Contracts for healthcare transportation must not be awarded based on the lowest price.
“Safety record, asset suitability, maintenance capability, operational experience, emergency preparedness and clinical requirements must carry decisive weight,” he said.
He stressed that all aircraft, ambulances, boats and other vehicles used for healthcare missions must undergo independent safety verification, and be excluded if they have not secured such assurances.
“Emergency missions must remain subject to strict safety and operational clearance,” he said.
He also called for mandatory government-funded insurance for all personnel sent on healthcare missions.
“The Health Ministry, the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry must clearly state the full benefits and compensation available to the families of those who died,” he said, welcoming the Sarawak government’s RM100,000 aid to each family of the Long Lellang crash victims, as well as bearing their children’s education expenses.
