Premier Lin Chuan says that a plan to provide outlying islands with helicopters for medical evacuations could be put in motion at the end of the year. Lin was speaking Saturday at the main hospital on the outlying island of Kinmen.
After listening to reports on the hospital’s condition, Lin said that medical evacuations from outlying islands present a serious problem. He also said that the interior ministry’s National Airborne Service Corps will be unable to bear the burden of evacuations in the long term. Lin said that long-term solutions are needed, and that medical evacuation helicopters may be stationed on outlying islands at the end of the year.
Lin was accompanied by lawmakers and local officials during his trip. Yang Cheng-wu, a KMT lawmaker representing Kinmen, said that NT$4 billion (US$125 million) have been earmarked for the helicopters, which will be privately operated.