Overview of the Situation

The decision to charter an air ambulance is often taken when other options, such as medically escorted repatriation on a commercial airline, are not feasible. During the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced commercial flight availability and closed international borders made private air ambulances the only viable option for patients requiring urgent medical repatriation.

Initial Client Requests

MedResQ Ltd was managing three separate patient cases:

  • Patient A: A 46-year-old male from the Ivory Coast in Dubai with a severe haemorrhagic stroke.
  • Patient B: A 63-year-old Croatian male in Accra, Ghana with bilateral pneumonia and COVID-19.
  • Patient C: A 63-year-old Russian male in Accra, Ghana with bilateral pneumonia and COVID-19.

Escalation and Challenges

Due to medical conditions and travel restrictions, commercial flight options were not possible. Combining the repatriation missions of three patients across three continents and five countries presented significant logistical challenges.

Action Plan Implementation

Medical Assessment

MedResQ evaluated the clinical needs of each patient with the air ambulance medical teams and conducted fit-to-fly assessments.

Logistical Coordination

MedResQ coordinated a combined mission to repatriate Patient A to the Ivory Coast, followed by a double stretcher mission from Ghana to St Petersburg via Rijeka for Patients B and C. The mission required:

  • 10 landing permissions
  • 12 overfly permits
  • 10 refuel stops
  • 6 ground ambulances
  • 20,000 km total flying distance

MedResQ’s Response in Action

The MedResQ operations team meticulously planned and coordinated each segment of the mission, working closely with ground agents in each country to ensure seamless transfers. They also ensured that all clients were updated at every stage.

Successful Resolution

The mission was executed seamlessly, and all three patients were safely repatriated to their respective countries for further treatment. The combined mission not only ensured the patients received timely medical care but also provided significant cost savings through shared logistics.