An air ambulance service will be introduced in Bahrain to overcome delays facing emergency vehicles on the country's congested roads, said a senior government official.

The scheme is already in the pilot phase and the Health Ministry has been ordered to make it fully operational, Minister of State for Information Affairs and official government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab was quoted as saying by the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

It is being launched based on a parliamentary proposal to reduce response times, particularly in situations where emergency vehicles can be delayed.

"We in the government are keen on improving health services and directives have been issued to the Health Ministry and other bodies concerned to take necessary action to make the service fully operational," said Rajab.

"Saving people's lives is important to us and with huge traffic congestion, new alternatives to regular ambulances had to be found. Speedy treatment is vital and we have decided that air ambulances would be a good support to the existing emergency services." – TradeArabia News Service