We used to do quite a lot of medivacs when I was in PNG with North Coast. Generally in BN2's back to Nadzab. The medivacs were paid for by local governemnt I believe, but unfortunately they were often left very late, to the point where within the week I was doing a coffin charter back to the village. The 'ambulance' was meant to be at Nadzab on our arrival to take the patient to the hospital in Lae, but often was late or didnt even turn up. (I put 'ambulance' in inverted commas because it was just just an enclosed Land Cruiser with a stretcher in the back). Once I flew a very ill woman from Tawa to Nadzab and no ambulance showed. Got back from next flight a couple of hours later to find woman still there! The boss (GT) ended up taking her into Lae on the back of his ute. I saw the 'ambulance' in Lae shortly afterwards parked up in town with the driver and his wantoks drinking SP in the back!
