Medical evacuation from the DRC to Morocco: how do you organise a transfer in such a vast country?

Defining the safest departure point

Kinshasa, served by N’Djili International Airport, has a large share of international connections. Lubumbashi and other major cities also have airports. For a patient far from the capital, two questions arise: does their condition allow a first domestic flight or a long road journey, and can this domestic transfer be coordinated with the international flight without a long wait somewhere they could not be monitored?

Long-distance road travel is often difficult. For a seriously ill patient, it is sometimes safer to arrange medical transport directly from the nearest city with a suitable runway. This choice lies with the medical team and the transport operator, depending on the patient and local conditions at the time.

Taking time zones into account

The DRC spans two time zones: Kinshasa and the west of the country are on UTC+1, while Lubumbashi, Kasai and the Kivu provinces are on UTC+2. Morocco is on UTC+1 for most of the year and UTC+0 during the month of Ramadan. Stating the local time of each vital sign, each test and the last medical contact avoids misunderstandings when the situation is changing fast.

Preparing a usable medical file

French is the official language and the language of medical reports, so the file can be reviewed directly in Morocco. The file includes:

• a recent summary from the treating doctor or hospital department, with the question being asked;
• reports of hospital stays, tests and previous procedures, dated;
• the imaging files whenever possible;
• the pathology report and where the samples are stored in the case of cancer;
• current treatments, allergies and medical history.

When access to certain tests is limited in the patient’s region, it helps to say so: the team in Morocco will know that it needs to carry them out on arrival, which affects the length of stay and the estimate.

The role of the companion

French is not always the language the patient is most comfortable in: Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba are widely spoken. A companion who understands the patient and speaks French makes information, consent and discharge easier. They also help keep in touch with the family at home and with the doctor who will take over follow-up.

Funding

Depending on the situation, the patient and their family, an employer, a private insurer or a body may fund the care pathway. Each applies its own procedure; prior approval is requested before departure, with a recent medical report and a detailed estimate from the receiving facility and, if needed, for transport.

Entering Morocco

Entry requirements for Morocco depend on nationality and have changed in recent years. For a DRC national, they should be checked as soon as a transfer is being considered, on the official websites of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs or with the Moroccan embassy in Kinshasa. The time needed to obtain any authorisation must be built into the schedule. Documents should clearly state “Democratic Republic of the Congo” to avoid any confusion with the Republic of the Congo.

Preparing the return and continuity of care

The return of a patient to a region far from the capital is prepared early: domestic journey, medicines available locally, follow-up tests that can be done locally, the doctor who will take over follow-up. Before discharge, the patient receives the reports, prescriptions using international non-proprietary names and a follow-up schedule. When some check-ups are not available near home, the team may suggest an alternative or an adapted schedule.

Frequently asked questions