Quebec launches new air medical transport service

Quebec has launched a new air medical transport service. (Pexels)

A new air medical transport service is being established in the province after the Quebec government awarded a five-year, $45.8-million contract to B.C.-based company Summit Helicopters to supply the helicopters needed.

The government said it has taken this step following a call for tenders in August and to ensure all Quebecers have access to rapid and safe health care no matter where they live.

“We committed to improving access to emergency services for all Quebecers, and this contract is the successful outcome of that commitment,” said Health Minister Sonia Bélanger.

“In a few months, helicopters will be flying across Quebec to save lives or prevent severe complications for many people. It reflects the major effort we have made to modernize our approach to health care in a way that aligns with the needs of each community.”

Quebec is currently the only province without a helicopter ambulance service.

The service is intended for people who live in remote regions, specifically 75 to 275 kilometres from a major hospital, and whose condition is critical and time-sensitive, where faster intervention can significantly reduce long-term complications.

Some of these conditions include heart attacks, strokes, major trauma and some pediatric emergencies.

The government added that the service will complement existing resources, like ambulances and air ambulances, as part of an integrated emergency medical transport system.

It is also expected to reduce response times and improve care pathways, particularly for Indigenous communities where rapid access to specialized care remains a significant challenge.

The initiative will be rolled out in two phases, with first transports scheduled this summer from Quebec City. The second phase, from Mirabel, will begin in the fall.

“I am very proud of the work that has been done on air medical transport, particularly by the teams at the Government Air Service of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility,” said Jonatan Julien, minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

“Quebec is vast, and I am pleased to see steps being taken to meet the population’s needs with fairness and access to emergency services.”

In 2024, the government announced the creation of four helipads located at the Centre hospitalier régional de Lanaudière in Joliette, Roberval Hospital, the McGill University Health Centre and the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal. More are expected to be built throughout the province.

The air medical transport service is part of the implementation of a government action plan for the prehospital emergency system. The program initially received $125 million over five years.