Maldivian Airlines has changed its policy such that medical evacuations in emergencies are to be given precedence over scheduled flights.
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen said that the procedural guidelines used in the past ten years resulted in long durations being taken for arrangement of medical transfers.
He explained that patients can only be transferred after the airline receives a declaration from the hospital, following which Aasandha insurance approval is sought and sent to the airline on confirmation.
Furthermore, patients were transferred only when the airline had vacant time windows in between scheduled flights.
Ameen said that starting today, the airline will prioritize prompt transfers of patients upon receiving requests from a hospital, with no necessity to wait for Aasandha approval.
"Patient transfers will be given priority over scheduled flights. This will happen immediately from today onwards. So there will no longer be these delays. This change has been initiated directly by the President himself to better serve the citizens," Minister Ameen said.
Ameen went on to confirm that air ambulance services will be commenced in March as planned.
"From March 1, there will be health professionals, airlines and crew ready to respond to emergencies around the clock," he said.
These changes have been brought into effect at a time when the government is facing harsh criticism following the death of a thirteen year old child in critical condition who was delayed being transferred by a day despite the urgency.
The child was placed on ventilator support on Wednesday morning, but had to remain in the island till sunset the next day, when transfer to the capital city was finally arranged.
Public criticism increased following the death of the child.
Mihaaru News reports that the family of the child claims the delays in arranging the transfer, and in providing additional medical treatment, are the cause of his death.
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