Kagawa Prefecture launches air ambulance service
Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture launched operations of a new ‘Doctor-Heli’ air ambulance service on Monday 18 April – the final prefecture to launch such a service
The service will be operated by the Takamatsu City-based air services provider Shikoku Airlines using a Kawasaki BK 117C-1 helicopter.
The service will initially operate between 08:30 hrs and 17:30 hrs (or sunset,depending on the season) and will serve two base hospitals – Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital and Kagawa University Hospital.
The new air ambulance is expected to strengthen emergency services in the prefecture, which lies on the northern coast of Shikoku – bordering the Seto Inland Sea, a major shipping route.
The introduction of the service will especially improve medical access for the various populated coastal islands across Kagawa’s coastline, which were previously served by various chartered vessels.
The introduction of the Kagawa Doctor-Heli completes a nationwide network of air ambulance services covering every prefecture, and follows the launch of a similar service by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on 31 March.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.