The Government is set to expand its national air ambulance service following its notable success since its launch in March 2024. Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim made the announcement speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office on Thursday, outlining plans to scale up operations and address current challenges, particularly the shortage of trained professionals.

Over the past year, the service has completed 899 missions and transported 1,072 patients across the country. The initiative, introduced as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s healthcare agenda, has become a critical component in delivering emergency medical care—especially to residents in remote islands with limited access to specialist treatment.

Minister Nazim confirmed that the main constraint to expansion lies in the availability of skilled personnel needed to operate and support air ambulance services. In response, an agreement has been signed with The Maldives National University (MNU) to develop and roll out training programmes tailored to this sector. With approval from the Cabinet’s Social Council, these programmes are expected to launch later in the year.

This collaboration aims to create a qualified local workforce capable of supporting the long-term sustainability and quality of the service. The training will focus on both medical and technical areas essential to air ambulance operations, ensuring improvements in service delivery while paving the way for broader healthcare workforce development.

The Minister described the expansion of the air ambulance initiative as part of a larger effort to modernise the healthcare system and ensure equitable access to emergency services across the atolls. The success of the past year has highlighted the impact of rapid medical transport in saving lives, and the planned expansion is designed to build on this foundation.

In addition to improving response times, the initiative is expected to create new professional opportunities for Maldivians interested in emergency medicine and aviation healthcare.