AMREF Flying Doctors stands at the forefront of fixed-wing air ambulance services in Africa. As a fully owned subsidiary of AMREF Africa Health, one of the foremost international health NGOs (charities) on the continent, the proceeds generated by this service are dedicated to advancing the organization’s humanitarian efforts. For additional information, please visit their website at www.flydoc.org. Your safari with us is without a doubt an experience of a lifetime, a journey that you may have been looking forward to and planning for years. Understandably you don’t want to think of anything that can go wrong, but very occasionally it does, which is why we always recommend our clients take out travel insurance.
In the unfortunate case that you require urgent medical assistance during your safari, you need to make sure that your medical care is well arranged and fully covered. In conjunction with AMREF Flying Doctors, Savannah Explore ltd registers every single client for the medevac insurance Tourist Evacuation Scheme. This emergency medical insurance gives you access to emergency air evacuation, whenever it’s required and wherever you are, with all emergency evacuation costs completely covered.
NOTE: standard travel insurance does NOT normally cover these costs, but do read the small print first.
What is the Tourist Evacuation Scheme?
Simply, in the event of a critical medical emergency which AMREF’s doctors agree requires urgent hospital treatment, an airlift evacuation is provided from almost anywhere in Uganda,Rwanda, kenya and Tanzania . AMREF’s fleet of specialist aircraft are staffed by ICU doctors and nurses as required by each situation. Evacuation is provided to one of the main hospitals in Nairobi.
Additionally, guests have the reassurance of 24/7 access to AMREF’s Medical Helpline for information and advice in the case of more minor illness or accident.
24 hour access to medical care: Signing up for the Flying Doctor Services guarantees you access to medevac medical assistance 24 hours a day, no matter how remote your location in our destination .
Full coverage: emergency air evacuation is very costly and your expenses can easily cost thousands of dollars. Registration with the medevac insurance AMREF Tourist Evacuation Scheme gives you full coverage of costs of the air ambulance, transport from the airstrip to the hospital and the first 24 hours in hospital.
Easy and hassle-free: No dealing with third parties. All you need to do is contact Savannah Explore ltd to sign you up to AMREF’s Flying Doctor Services and you will receive proof of your registration. In case of any emergency, AMREF will deal with the paperwork and your insurance company directly.
How much does this Scheme cost?
There is no additional cost for guests travelling with us on safaris as this service is included in the price you have been quoted.
For guests booking accommodation or other travel services through Kikooko, but not taking part in an organised tour, we offer this service at a cost of $18 per person.
Who Pays for the cost if I need Medical Evacuation?
The costs of the medical evacuation are covered by this scheme. You will be asked to provide details of your travel insurance which we will share with AMREF. This enables them to liaise directly with your insurance company as soon as it becomes clear that a medical evacuation is needed. Where they can, AMREF recover their costs directly from your insurance company. The Tourist Evacuation Service is not a substitute or alternative for travel insurance. It does not cover the cost of in-patient treatment, for example.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions are extracts from the full terms provided by AMREF. Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have about the scheme.
AMREF Flying Doctors will make every effort to accommodate the Clients’ requirements for patient evacuation. However, AMREF Flying Doctors retains the right to use its judgment in all cases particularly in circumstances involving the safety of people and aircraft. In extreme medical emergency situations AMREF Flying Doctors will use its best endeavours to evacuate the patient(s) subject always to the pilot’s discretion. The final decision to evacuate rests with AMREF Flying Doctors. Any reasons for rejection of a request for evacuations will be given within a reasonable time.
Aero medical evacuations shall be subject to clearances from the relevant air control authorities and to there being a usable airstrip near to the patient’s location.
AMREF Flying Doctors reserve the right to direct you to consult with a Doctor to assess your medical needs before an evacuation is instigated.
Fraud, whether attempted or actual, will be treated very seriously. Any detected fraud will render the subscriber liable to pay in full any costs incurred by AMREF Flying Doctors, who reserve the right to take legal action if necessary.
This subscription allows up to two air evacuations annually in case of a medical emergency. After two air evacuations have been utilised subscribers will need to renew their subscription to be eligible for any further air evacuation.
Only registered clients are covered by this scheme. Subscription is not transferrable between people. Identification (passport or similar) will be required to confirm subscription status before the evacuation takes place.
AMREF Flying Doctors will not pay for expenses arising from or authorise a free evacuation when requested in relation to any of the following:
- Out of hospital treatment – any out of hospital treatment or an evacuation that is requested for mild lesions, simple injuries like sprains or simple fractures and mild illnesses, which are able to be treated locally.
- Acute illness or injury at the time of enrolment – any evacuation for an acute illness or injury that a subscriber was being treated for at the time of or immediately prior to enrolment.
- Inpatient medical cost – any inpatient medical costs.
- Professional sports and willful exposure to needless danger – an evacuation of a subscriber who is engaged in any professional activity, or any sport or activity reasonably considered by us at our discretion, as being of a dangerous nature without limiting the generality thereof including but not limited to parachuting, gliding, paragliding, parascending, whitewater rafting, canoeing, underwater diving involving the use of any artificial apparatus, unless the subscriber holds an open water diving with a certified instructor, both no deeper than 30 meters below the surface, hand gliding, or bungee jumping, or any occupation reasonably considered by us, at our discretion, as being of a dangerous nature, without limiting the generality thereof, including, but not limited to mining, construction and security unless previously disclosed and accepted by AMREF.
- War, political violence, civil unrest – an evacuation for injuries sustained as a result of war, political violence or civil unrest howsoever caused.
- Search & Rescue – search/rescue operations if a subscriber is lost in a remote area.
- Self-inflicted injuries and influence of alcohol and/or drugs – an evacuation for self-inflicted injuries. We do not pay for an evacuation for any illness or injuries sustained whilst a subscriber is under the influence of alcohol and /or drugs.
- Criminal activity – any evacuation arising from or related to injuries sustained whilst engaging in a criminal or unlawful act.
- Psychiatric, psycho – geriatric or mental illnesses or conditions – the evacuation where the subscribers primary admitting diagnosis is an inpatient psychiatric disorder.
- Contamination – the evacuation for any conditions arising directly or indirectly from chemical or biological contamination, however caused or from contamination caused from nuclear fission, ionizing radiation or by radioactivity from nuclear fuel or waste
- Organ transplant lists – any evacuation of a subscriber who is on an organ transplant list prior to enrolment.
Outside of this scheme it may be possible to offer evacuations against personal payment by the client.