President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the helicopters required for the Air Ambulance service will be brought by the end of the year.

The President made the remarks while speaking at a rally held in Fuvahmulah City ahead of the Parliamentary Elections this Sunday. President Dr. Muizzu said that the Administration's top priority is to ensure there are no foreign military personnel in Maldives by 10 May 2024.

He said that Maldivians have had to rely on foreign assistance to transport patients but that the service will now be carried out by Maldivians. As such, President Dr. Muizzu said that patients will be transported across the country by MNDF's capable officers.

"This is a great success for us. We are becoming independent in every sense. But this does not end here. We will expand this fleet. We will add more vessels to the Air Ambulance service. We will hopefully bring medical evacuation helicopters by the end of the year," President Dr. Muizzu said.

He added that the authorities did not have the capability to monitor the maritime borders before. However, the Exclusive Economic Zone will now be monitored around the clock by MNDF, he said.