Conditions of Membership

Please note that members join individually and memberships are not transferable.

Each member receives one free air evacuation within the radius of membership to Nairobi within the membership period, from locations within Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi only in the event of a life threatening medical emergency.

Patients are flown to Nairobi, usually to Wilson Airport but occasionally to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. At the airport, they are met by an AMREF Flying Doctor ambulance, in which the patients are transferred to the hospital of their choice. The ground ambulance is included as part of the free evacuation.

Definition of an eligible emergency Flying Doctors Medical Personnel will be responsible for the decision as to whether the condition and location of the member warrant a free evacuation flight. If applicable, and where possible, the member may be requested to be seen by a medical person before a free evacuation is granted. AMREF Flying Doctors reserve the right to charge a member in full for the evacuation should they discover that any medical condition has been fraudulent, intentionally exaggerated or if fraudulent means or devices have been used by the member, or anyone acting on your or their behalf in order to obtain a free evacuation flight.

Exclusions

Free evacuations will not be granted in cases such as the following:

  • The patient is not suffering from an immediately life-threatening medical condition and/or
  • The condition can be treated at a medical facility near to the patient's location
  • The patient's condition is not serious enough to warrant air ambulance evacuation, and the patient can be transported by an alternative means such as by road to the nearest medical facility.
  • The patient's emergency has arisen as a result of self-inflicted damage or injury, such as attempted suicide, active involvement in violent or war-related activities, alcohol or drug abuse.
  • If the patient is suffering from a pre-existing condition/illness, a waiting period of 7 days from the commencement of membership must elapse prior to commencement of an evaluation for the same condition/illness.
  • If the medical condition does not qualify for a free evacuation flight, or if the membership is not valid/expired, the patient can still be evacuated but the patient must provide or arrange for a written guarantee of payment for the flight charges or landing permission.

Clearances, Airstrips, Flying Conditions and Choice or Aircraft

Air evacuations are subject to clearances from the relevant air traffic control authorities and to there being a usable airstrip near to the patient's location. AMREF Flying Doctors is not responsible for evacuations precluded by circumstances beyond its control e.g. political instability; refusal of a government or appropriate authority to grant over flight or landing permission.

AMREF Flying Doctors will use its best endeavours to evacuate the patient(s), subject always to the pilot's discretion. The pilot's decision shall be final in all aviation cases and it is hereby expressly agreed that neither the Company nor the member will hold either AMREF Flying Doctors, The Flying Doctor Society of Africa liable and will have no recourse against AMREF Flying Doctors, The Flying Doctor Society of Africa or any staff, agents or subcontracted personnel under any circumstances where the flight was refused, unsuccessful or delayed.

It will be entirely within AMREF's discretion to use the aircraft most suitable for the task.

Payment terms and renewals

Memberships are only valid from the day of the receipt of membership charges.

For the 500km membership only, flights beyond the agreed distance for each membership will be charged for the additional distance.

The membership period is automatically terminated when a client is evacuated. Membership can be renewed by payment if a new membership fee to cover the year following the date of evacuation. The Flying Doctors Society of Africa retains the right not to accept membership or renewal of membership applications at any time.


I have read and accepted the terms and conditions of service.

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Whether you’re a tourist, business traveller or a resident of East Africa, joining the Flying Doctors is a simple and affordable choice that can help towards saving the lives of others - and may one day save your own.

If you live, work or are travelling within East Africa, (Kenya Uganda and Tanzania), Rwanda and Burundi, (anywhere within a maximum of 1000 km of Nairobi), it is extremely useful to become a member of the Flying Doctor Service. We currently have over 32,000 subscribing members.

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The Flying Doctor Radio Network

As a vital link between remote areas and the control centre in Nairobi, AMREF has established a radio network that comprises over 100HF radio stations, making it the largest two-way radio network in Africa.

The Flying Doctor Fleet

AMREF owns and operates its own fleet of aircraft which can be converted into airborne intensive care units