© WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
The Flying Doctor Service was introduced in 1973 to provide basic health services to people living in remote areas. The helicopters are based in Kuching, Sibu and Miri and together, they cover 141 locations in the remote rural with a attends of about 70 000 outpatients, children and antenatal mothers every year. The Flying Doctor team comprises a medical officer, a medical assistant and two community nurses who visit the locations once a month or once in two months. The Flying Doctor Service also provides medical emergency evacuation (MEDEVAC) of seriously ill patients from the locality to the nearest appropriate hospital, from rural health clinics to hospital and from hospital to hospital. It also served as cargo run to rural health clinics in delivering medical items and drugs. During disease outbreak in the state, the Flying Doctor Service helicopters are also used for quick transportation of field investigation and control medical and health teams.