Air Mercy Service marks 60 years of delivering life-saving care across South Africa

The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust (AMS) celebrated its 60th anniversary at an event held at its base at Cape Town International Airport on Wednesday evening, marking six decades of delivering critical aero-medical services across South Africa.

AMS is an aero-medical organisation that collaborates with volunteers, healthcare professionals, provincial health departments, non-profit organisations, and the private sector to improve access to healthcare. Its services are particularly vital for critically ill or injured patients and those in remote rural communities who require specialised medical care.

Chief Executive Officer Farhaad Haffejee said the organisation operates a fleet of helicopters and ground transport vehicles that function as air ambulances, enabling doctors and specialists to reach underserved areas.

"Each service is a critical component in extending care to where it is needed most, often in the most rural communities in the country," he said.

He added that in provinces where AMS has agreements with health departments, particularly in the Western and Eastern Cape, services are provided free of charge to those in need.

Haffejee outlined a wide range of services provided by AMS, including rescue operations, inter-hospital transfers, disaster relief, humanitarian response, and specialist outreach through its “flying doctor” service.

"For patients with medical insurance, costs may be recovered later. But in an emergency, assistance is provided immediately," Haffejee explained.

Reflecting on the organisation’s legacy, Haffejee said its impact goes beyond its 60-year history.

"What truly defines AMS is not the years behind us, but the lives we impact every day. Every flight represents a critical moment—a person in need, a community in distress, and a healthcare system under pressure. Our role is to respond efficiently, safely, and with clinical excellence," he said.

AMS Board of Trustees Chairperson Gideon Sam emphasised the need for continued efforts to realise equitable healthcare in South Africa, as envisioned in the Constitution.

"It cannot be that people are stranded for days during disasters such as floods. We have the resources, and they must be deployed to assist those in need; that was always the founding intent of AMS and the Red Cross," Sam said.

He stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing the growing strain on the healthcare system, including rising demand, limited resources, and inequality in access.

"It cannot be AMS alone or the Red Cross alone. It requires collaboration between the public sector and various organisations working together to ensure effective service delivery," he said.

Looking ahead, Sam said AMS aims to strengthen international partnerships to enhance its operations and response capabilities.

"People must understand that we work with organisations all around us, both locally and internationally, because if you don't have a good partner and something happens to this helicopter, it could stand here for the better part of three years before we get a part from Canada or elsewhere. It is therefore important that we can press a button and say there’s a piece of equipment that we need immediately, and, because of our partnerships, we can obtain it," he noted.

Among the speakers at the event was former African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who highlighted the importance of advancing equitable healthcare access across the country.

The anniversary celebration underscored AMS’s enduring role in bridging healthcare gaps and its commitment to saving lives through rapid, specialised medical response.