Vietnam proposes National Air Ambulance system
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The Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Air Defence Force in Vietnam is proposing the development of a national air ambulance system to improve emergency medical care.
Representatives from the Institute shared the proposal at a professional exchange conference on September 12. They aim to provide faster medical assistance to soldiers, fishermen in island and coastal areas, and those affected by natural disasters.
Vietnam’s extensive coastline, over 3,260 kilometers, and numerous islands create challenges for timely medical transport, especially in remote areas like the Spratly Islands and DK1 platforms. Conditions like severe trauma, head injuries, heart attacks, strokes, and decompression sickness can quickly become life-threatening when sea transport takes hours or even days. The Institute believes air transport can be the only way to reach patients within a critical timeframe. To move beyond ad-hoc flights, the Institute suggests establishing a standardized, nationally-operated system.
This includes acquiring dedicated ambulance aircraft, rather than relying primarily on modified military transport planes. They envision a fleet of medium-range fixed-wing aircraft equipped for intensive care and new-generation helicopters with winches and fixed medical floors, suitable for rescue missions and patient transport in difficult terrain. Expanding helicopter landing pads at provincial and central hospitals is also part of the plan, creating a connected network for receiving, transporting, and treating patients.
The proposal also calls for national standards for air ambulance services, covering the skills of medical teams, equipment safety, and coordination between military and civilian medical personnel. The Institute suggests integrating the cost of air ambulance transport into health insurance and social welfare policies for island and coastal communities. They also plan to build an Air Ambulance Training Center with a simulated aircraft cabin to prepare medical staff for the unique challenges of in-flight care.
