By Mercy Adi
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has commenced discussions with European aerospace giant, Airbus, on the procurement of emergency care helicopters as part of Nigeria’s proposed National Medical Emergency Management System.
The move, which has the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is aimed at strengthening the country’s emergency response framework through an integrated ground-to-air medical system.
Pate disclosed this during a visit to an air ambulance facility in Lyon, where he inspected an Airbus emergency care helicopter and held talks with company executives on possible collaboration.
According to the minister, the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader health sector renewal investment drive targeted at improving emergency medical services nationwide.
He said, “In line with the health sector renewal investment initiative, we are expanding Nigeria’s public health infrastructure, as well as private sector capacity for medical care, including emergencies.
“The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme is being revamped with urban ambulances for cities and rural emergency systems. Now, we are looking at helicopter emergency medical services.”
Pate noted that Airbus helicopters were being considered due to their widespread use in global air ambulance services, adding that the government was carefully evaluating how such assets would fit into Nigeria’s health system.
“We are here in Lyon to look at helicopter emergency medical services, particularly Airbus helicopters, which are dominant globally for air ambulances, and how they can fit within our health system, personnel capacity, and financing model to ensure sustainability,” he said.
He added that the Ministries of Health and Aviation were working collaboratively under the President’s directive to build a functional ecosystem that would integrate aviation regulation with healthcare delivery.
“The idea is to ensure that regulators in the civil aviation space work seamlessly with the health sector so that, over time, we can acquire and deploy helicopter emergency medical services in parts of the country where they are most needed,” he added.
The minister further explained that the helicopters would support rapid response to critical health conditions such as trauma, cardiac emergencies, strokes, and other life-threatening situations, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
“This is about taking Nigeria’s health sector a step further by building a system that serves Nigerians and moves us closer to global standards,” Pate said.
He, however, emphasised that the initiative would be implemented gradually to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
“It is a long journey. We are starting it and will build it block by block in line with the President’s vision for a Nigeria that works for everyone,” he said.