Albanian Intercare Services steps up to Assistance Partner as inbound tourism soars

Our former correspondent, Albanian Intercare Services (AIS), has successfully applied to become our Assistance Partner. Formerly correspondent and the hosts of our first EduTour in October 2022, which was a resounding success and set the benchmark for those to follow, we are delighted that they have undertaken another step to advance their valued relationship within the International Assistance Group.

 

AIS is a full-range assistance provider covering medical cases, telemedicine, roadside, third-party administration, security, and legal services. Their capability to respond to large-scale situations was recognised in 2019 with a Certificate of Gratitude from Albania’s Emergency Center Office for their help during the Earthquakes that year.

 

We are firmly committed to being the leading assistance company serving the West Balkans’ increasing volume of inbound travellers,’ stated Margarit Dado, AIS’ General Manager & CEO. He added: ‘Our collaboration with IAG partners at a higher level will result in improved quality and a push for local providers to strive for international standards.’

  

Growth in inbound tourism has been remarkable. Between January and September 2023, 8.3 million inbound visitors were recorded. In 2013, the complete year saw 3.4 million, according to the Albanian authorities.

  

With such rapid growth, infrastructure faces challenges. AIS will provide a valuable resource throughout the assistance case life cycle, including directional care, arranging primary healthcare doctors through to case monitoring, and keeping a careful eye on costs.

  

Founded in 2017, AIS has a solid reputation in the assistance industry, extending to Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia Herzegovina.

Africa’s Renowned AMREF Flying Doctors are now our Assistance Partner in Kenya and surrounding countries

Paris, France, 1 February 2024  – We are delighted to welcome AMREF to Assistance Partner status within the International Assistance Group.

Having been an Accredited Service Provider within the group since January 2015 for air ambulance services, they now provide the full range of assistance services that meet the selection criteria for our Assistance Partner status.

From their base in Kenya, their Assistance Partner status for all inbound travel will also cover Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. They are also able to assist in the Central African Republic and Djibouti when possible.

‘Having served so many IAG Partners over a long period of time with our air ambulance services, we are extremely pleased that we can now formally offer a wider range of medical assistance services over such a large area’, stated Jane Munyua, AMREF Flying Doctors’ Medical Assistance Manager.

Renowned for its air ambulance capabilities for over 66 years, AMREF’s in-depth and on-the-ground experience will now provide partners of the International Assistance Group with additional services such as the

  • guarantee of hospital payments and related costs
  • follow up on medical reports
  • arrangement of flight tickets and hotel accommodation for patients and their next of kin
  • ground transfers by taxi
  • help with lost or stolen documentation and luggage
  • emergency cash advances
  • repatriation of mortal remains and funeral assistance
  • house calls for bedside assessments
  • medicine dispatch
  • homecare assistance

In addition, they also provide medical escorts on commercial flights within the African region and to the rest of the world.

AMREF Flying Doctors is a commercial entity that supports the more significant work of Amref Health Africa, a non-governmental health organisation employing over 1500 people within 100 projects in poor or marginalised populations throughout Eastern Africa.

With the future development of healthcare professionals and managers critical to the region, Amref Health Africa has established its own International University offering Certificate and Diploma Courses and undergraduate and Postgraduate degree courses.

Twice winners of the prestigious ITIJ Air Ambulance Provider of the Year Award, AMREF Flying Doctors is accredited by EURAMI for Long-range / Intercontinental Fixed Wing Air Ambulance, Regional Fixed Wing Air Ambulance and Commercial Airline Medical Escort. This includes Medical Endorsement as an adult critical care provider.