New flying docs expected in six months

Star: KUCHING: A new permanent provider for the flying doctor service (FDS) in Sarawak is expected to be appointed in six months.
In the meantime, the state health department would hire an interim service provider with the help of the Health Ministry and the Department of Civil Aviation.
Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Soon Choon Teck told the Sarawak State Assembly yesterday that the process was expected to take a month.
“The interim service provider must use twin-engine helicopters fitted with emergency medical service equipment to improve the safety and quality of the service,” he told Lihan Jok (BN-Telang Usan).
He added that the current 15 mobile health teams visiting FDS locations by land would also continue their work while the appointments were being finalised.
Dr Soon said a new contract for the FDS using the new specifications had been awarded to SAR Helicopters Sdn Bhd for 2007-2010.
However, the contract was terminated on Nov 12 because SAR Helicopters had been unable to fulfil it.
“They did not provide any service in January 2007. From February to June 2007, they were only able to provide partial service, which at best was only 26.9% of what was expected,” Dr Soon said.