FDS team in Sarawak helicopter crash was serving remote communities

KUCHING, Sept 9 —The Flying Doctor Service (FDS) team involved in the helicopter crash near Long Lellang this afternoon is one of the active teams providing healthcare services to residents in remote areas of Sarawak.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the FDS was introduced in Sarawak in 1973 and plays a vital role in delivering healthcare services to communities in hard-to-reach areas.

Through regular visits, the service provides medicines and vaccines, as well as medical evacuation missions for critically ill patients.

On April 8 this year, Sarawak Health director Dr Veronica Lugah was reported as saying that the FDS initiative in the state would be further strengthened to ensure residents in remote areas have access to quality healthcare services.

She said there were currently 97 localities requiring FDS services, covering remote areas in Kapit, Miri and Limbang, most of which remained difficult to access and were far from adequate road networks

Currently, visits to remote areas take place once a month, although for some locations, we conduct them once every two months, depending on our operational capacity.

“Despite logistical challenges, this service remains uninterrupted and will continue, as it is vital to residents in these remote areas,” she said.

Dr Veronica said the FDS deployed a comprehensive medical team comprising a doctor, nurses and an assistant medical officer to ensure patients received holistic care.

Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), in a statement, said that a BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including the pilot, had crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport), about 929 kilometres from Kuching.

According to CAAM, the helicopter was conducting a FDS mission when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the helicopter departed from Miri, and besides the pilot, those onboard were a medical officer, an assistant medical officer and two nurses, all of whom were on official duty.

He said the status of those involved and the cause of the incident had yet to be confirmed, adding that search and rescue (SAR) operations involving medical personnel and the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) were underway. — Bernama