When people hear “medical evacuation”, they often picture an air ambulance waiting on a runway.
The reality is considerably more complex.
Aircraft are not permanently positioned at every airport or airstrip. An aircraft may need to reposition from another location depending on the clinical urgency, aircraft and crew availability, weather, airspace permissions and cross-border requirements.
And an evacuation doesn’t always involve an aircraft.
Depending on the patient’s condition and location, the safest option may be:
- Road transfer
- Helicopter
- Fixed-wing air ambulance
- Commercial flight with medical escort
The decision is medically led and considers the patient’s condition, the availability of appropriate treatment and their stability for transport.
IHSR’s evacuation experience includes cardiac transfers, neonatal emergencies, trauma, strokes, severe malaria and other high-acuity cases across Southern Africa.
The objective isn’t simply to move a patient. It’s to move them safely to the appropriate level of care.
