Abu Dhabi-based ICATT RESPONSE PLUS has reached a significant milestone by logging nearly 1,000 flying hours within its first five months of operation. The specialized aeromedical joint venture, part of Response Plus Holding PJSC, has managed complex medical evacuation missions spanning 20 countries and five continents. Operating from the UAE, the service assists patients who need complex or urgent transfers between global healthcare systems, underscoring the nation's rising prominence in international emergency medical responses.
The venture utilizes a "bed-to-bed" evacuation model that manages the entire patient journey. This process coordinates transfers seamlessly from the originating hospital, through ground transport, onto the aircraft, and finally to the destination medical facility. Supporting these operations is a customized Challenger 605 flying intensive care unit, which is the first of its kind in the UAE. This air ambulance can fly up to 7,400 kilometers non-stop, allowing highly vulnerable patients to travel long distances under constant medical supervision and advanced care.
ICATT RESPONSE PLUS has completed more than 390 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) initiations and transfers. Notably, these missions included initiating ECMO on a three-day-old infant and transferring a six-week-old infant who required nitric oxide and oscillatory ventilation. Such delicate transfers demand highly skilled clinical teams, advanced onboard equipment, and precise coordination between hospitals.
Dr. Rohil Raghavan, Chairman of ICATT RESPONSE PLUS, emphasized that transporting critically ill patients internationally requires more than basic transit. He noted that the service fulfills this demanding need by integrating hospital-level care, clinical expertise, and comprehensive global coordination through its aeromedical consultants and partners.
