Ministry considers expanding air ambulance fleet beyond four planes

• Dr. Ahmed Al-Shati, Director of the Medical Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized enhancing emergency readiness through regular mock evacuation exercises at hospitals and health centers.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Shati, Director of the Medical Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the number of air ambulance planes can be increased from the current four, according to Al Jarida newspaper.

Al-Shati stated to the newspaper that there are currently two air ambulance planes and two medical evacuation planes, along with an air ambulance helicopter and a medical evacuation aircraft available for use or replacement as needed.

He also announced a mock emergency evacuation exercise conducted at the Kuwait Centre for Mental Health, with participation from the Medical Emergency Department, including the Planning and Information Department.

He stressed the importance of enhancing emergency readiness through numerous mock evacuation exercises at hospitals and health centers, ensuring preparedness for any incidents involving Ministry of Health facilities.

He added that the Morning Ambulance Area has held several meetings with the management of the Kuwait Centre for Mental Health.

A mock evacuation exercise was conducted in the IbnRushd wing, and another was carried out in the laboratory last week. This brings the total number of mock exercises conducted by the Morning Ambulance Area since the beginning of the year to eight, with more planned for the near future.

Al-Shati announced the completion of the 2024 strategic stock plan for medical emergencies as part of the readiness plan for emergency response.

He noted that the Medical Preparation Department within the Medical Emergency Department has been visiting to review and ensure that the requirements of the strategic stock plan are met and to monitor the progress of the work.

He added that the strategic stock plan for the Medical Emergency Department includes setting up a warehouse for each ambulance area, providing enough supplies for one month per region to cover emergencies at affiliated centers across all governorates of Kuwait.

Al-Shati also noted that the plan involves reorganizing the main warehouse in emergency management, increasing storage capacity to three months, with the possibility of expanding it to six months if necessary.

The Director of the Medical Emergency Department emphasized the crucial role played by emergency medical teams in ensuring the continuous flow of medical equipment and supplies.