Icelandic police cannot use air ambulances for non-medical emergencies

Icelandic police are barred from using air ambulances for non-medical emergencies, according to a recent statement from the Ministry of Health. The ministry clarified that law enforcement authorities cannot utilize air ambulance aircraft in urgent situations when no patient is on board and the transport is unrelated to medical evacuation.

This clarification comes in response to an inquiry from Jens Garðar Helgason, a member of the Independence Party. He questioned whether special forces or other police officers could use air ambulances for law enforcement purposes in critical situations. Minister of Health Alma Möller affirmed that no such authorization exists, meaning police officers cannot use aircraft or equipment designated for air ambulance services in these contexts.

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Such a measure does not fall under current agreements with air ambulance service providers, which aim to ensure safe and continuous service for medical transport.

Minister Möller explained that such arrangements do not fall under existing agreements with air ambulance service providers. These contracts are specifically designed to ensure safe and continuous service for medical transports. She further warned that using air ambulances for non-medical purposes could diminish the healthcare system's capacity to respond to urgent medical needs when they arise.

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Using air ambulances for purposes other than medical transport could reduce the healthcare system's response capacity for urgent medical transports when needed.