Manila: The Philippine government has launched an air ambulance service for patients requiring immediate medical attention in remote areas of the country.
According to the Department of Health, patients in island communities and remote areas of the MIMAROPA region (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) can now avail air ambulance services.
Regional health director Eduardo Janairo said most areas in MIMAROPA are not accessible to regular ambulance services due to difficult terrain.
“Some of these areas are remotely located and can’t be reached quickly by health workers, medical personnel and regular ambulance services. Patients can only be acquired through air transport,” he said, adding using an aircraft was the most effective and quickest response in saving a patient’s life, especially for those who reside in remote and hard to reach areas.
Due to limited landing sites on most islands of Palawan, the ambulance is an R44 helicopter.
Authorities say that the helicopter uses less fuel per hour compared to a fixed wing light aircraft such as the Cessna 206.
“Critical patients and emergency cases needing immediate care can be transported right away to the nearest health facility without difficulty,” Janairo said.
Just seven days after its formal launch in Puerto Princesa City, the air ambulance airlifted two emergency patients from the island municipalities of Cuyo and Balabac in Palawan on Sunday and Monday respectively.
One of the patients was a 41-year-old woman suffering from pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition, and was already in labour when she was flown to the Cuyo District Hospital where she arrived at 6pm from Manamoc Island, one of the farthest islands of the Cuyo Archipelago.
She delivered her baby under normal procedure hours later.
The following day, the air ambulance proceeded to Balabac Island to retrieve a 69-year-old man suffering from a bleeding peptic ulcer.
He was brought immediately to the MMG-PPC Cooperative Hospital in Puerto Princesa City.
Janairo, said they expect more patients to avail the ambulance service in the coming days. He said such is part of the service of the government.
“We will be expecting more patients to be airlifted in the coming days because we have provided a way for our indigent and indigenous communities to avail their right to primary health care. No patient should die just because he/she doesn’t have access to a health facility. With this air ambulance programme, we are hoping to save more lives,” stated.
Among those qualified to avail the government emergency air ambulance service are those who are seriously injured, and requiring immediate treatment, severe trauma cases and those who suffered from mild to severe stroke.
The air ambulance service may also be used to transport blood products for patients needing immediate rapid blood transfusion.
“The air ambulance program was inspired by President Rodrigo Duterte’s zeal of providing primary care to our indigents who have less access to health care. Those who have less in life deserve to have more benefit from the government for them to improve their lives,” Janairo concluded.
It is yet unknown if similar services will be available for other areas of the country, but the Philippines is largely an island country.
“Time is vital in saving a life. Even a fraction of a second delay may cost a patient’s life. And this is one of the advantage of an air transport because it includes providing a higher level of care from the scene of trauma to community hospitals,” Janairo emphasised.
