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FEATURE


security plans in place.” As he points out, even with extensive preparation, contingency plans can rapidly become unworkable. Specialist experience, with high operational flexibility, is essential. RMSI, International SOS’ strategic partner, brings exactly that experience and is the only full-service medical company of its type in existence. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, RMSI delivers a unique set of clinical, medical staffing and medical evacuation services designed specifically for austere and hostile environments specifically Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. “RMSI’s experience in these environments is second to none, enhancing International SOS’ resources and integrating seamlessly into our regional and global network”, says Dr Barnard. “By utilizing RMSI’s existing on-the- ground resources, we’re assuring companies in Iraq of the fastest advanced medical response and a high- quality remote and industrial medical service.”


Robust plans


Rob Lamb is CEO of RMSI. “In Iraq, as elsewhere, pre-planning is crucial”, he explains. “While a major focus will be on the response to hostile incidents, those events account for only a small proportion of medical risks. So rather than relying on a ‘security first-aider’ role, companies need to address their employees’ broad primary healthcare needs.” Robust contingency plans are needed to deal with emergency medical incidents. “Of course time is critical”, Rob continues. “In an emergency, our teams have the capabilities and necessary relationships already established to respond, deploy and evacuate quickly to a secure stabilization point. RMSI’s dedicated air ambulance (which operates


from Dubai) and International SOS’ Abu Dhabi-based air ambulance are critical factors. “They overcome complications with organizing aviation in and out of Iraq not just with the plane, but all the visa requirements. And it means we can reach medical resources in the UAE very quickly,” Robb adds. When clients in Iraq need help, it’s a joint response among International SOS and RMSI’s team of expatriate and local Iraqi medical professionals and logistical experts. “Ensuring our workforce is diverse means that clients received western standards of emergency care with knowledge of local resources. This is crucial to navigating the often daunting medical and logistical landscape of Iraq”, says Rob.


Expanding presence With over a dozen remote medical services sites across Afghanistan, RMSI has a growing presence in Iraq, most recently opening a regional medical center at Iraq Energy City, near Basra. An oil and gas services company, Petronor, has been developing the Iraq Energy City base with an emphasis on enhancing


Hotline I Issue 1, 2011 Hotline ssue 1, 2011 11


living conditions. The project is officially promoted and supported by the Iraq Ministry of Oil and South Oil Company. With a future capacity for more than 1,000


residents, and its vision as a premier working and living environment, Iraq Energy City is expanding the traditional role of an oilfield supply base. Peter Day is CEO of Petronor. “Our selection of medical provider at Iraq Energy City was an important one”, he says. “RMSI brings a strong track record in Iraq.”


Proactive step The RMSI center at the base is the only


international-standard medical and emergency stabilization center in the South of Iraq. Clients will be treated for everything from the simplest cuts and scrapes, through full emergency stabilization and possible evacuation. “Opening the center is a


proactive step to meeting the needs of the oil and gas community after the pull-out of the military”, says Rob Lamb. “It provides a much-needed security blanket for thousands of expatriate and Iraqi workers.” Having chosen the base as a secure, strategically important location, RMSI plans to use it as its central medical hub and to support its network of remote clinics at client sites throughout Iraq. Control Risks is also establishing a strategic presence at the base to complement its existing operations and help companies manage the security risks to personnel as operations expand.


“The situation in Iraq is improving all the time”, says Olivier Ryder. “Our role is to work in partnership with our clients, continually responding to challenges and helping them work with companies in the r g


egion to create a more secure and prosperous future there.” ■


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emergency, our teams have the capabilities and necessary relationships already


“In an


established to respond, deploy and evacuate quickly.





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