S’wak to address aircraft suitability, training and crew welfare following crash
KUCHING: Proposals are being drawn up to improve the Flying Doctor Service following the tragic helicopter crash in Long Lellang last month that claimed five lives, says state Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Michael Tiang.
He said the proposed improvements would cover operational safety, the suitability and capabilities of aircraft, emergency training and preparedness, as well as the welfare and protection of personnel.
“This approach will take into account the findings of relevant assessments and investigations, healthcare needs in rural communities and suitable alternative service delivery methods to ensure continuity of healthcare services while prioritising safety and effectiveness,” he told Datuk Friday Belik (GPS-Krian) during question time in the Sarawak legislative assembly yesterday.
With the service temporarily suspended, Tiang said alternative healthcare delivery methods had been deployed to rural and remote communities in Sarawak to ensure uninterrupted access to medical services.
These include deploying mobile clinic teams by land and river to accessible areas.
Inter-agency contingency plans have also been activated, with emergency medical evacuations from remote areas coordinated by the Fire and Rescue Department’s air unit, the police air wing and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Tiang said the state Health Department, in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department, would organise a staff engagement, safety briefing and aircraft familiarisation roadshow to improve the operational readiness of medical personnel involved in emergency evacuations and patient escorts.
He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the five people killed in the Long Lellang helicopter crash on Sept 8.
The victims were Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30; Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; assistant medical officer Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and staff nurses Jessie Paya Jok, 44; and Debra Moset, 40.
“May they be remembered as dedicated individuals whose service brought hope and healthcare to people who needed them most,” Tiang said.
