Ziqitza, licensed by DCAS, launches first independent, private ambulance service in Dubai

DUBAI- September 23, 2014: Licensed by Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Service (DCAS), Ziqitza Gulf Medical Response and Ambulance Services (ZGMRAS) -- associate of the world’s largest ambulance service company Global Medical Response Inc. USA -- has launched the first private sector independent ambulance service in Dubai. 

ZGMRAS is the first independent, life support ambulance service in Dubai’s private healthcare sector. 

Mr. Khalifa Hassan Al Darrai, CEO of DCAS, launched the service in the presence of Dr Azad Moopen- Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare; Mr. Tariq Ziad Alsedawi- Transport & Rental Manager at Emirates Transport; and senior management of DCAS including Dr Omar Al Sakaf, Mr. Neil Kirby, Mr. Jamal Essa, Mr. Ali Moosa, Mr. Mishal Julfar, Mr. Khalid Obedat, Mr. Sultan Abdul Rehman Ali and Dr Tanveer Yadgir.

Mr. Al Darrai hailed the initiative and said, “The life-support healthcare service introduced by GMRAS would be a great support to DCAS and other government departments concerned in Dubai. The initiative provides integrated and fully equipped service for all uses under the framework and directives of our visionary leadership to support the cooperation between Government and private sectors.”

“Our strategy is to increase the number of points for ambulance service across Dubai, incorporating all advanced medical technologies. This is aimed at using all modern means to provide medical aid to patients as soon as possible within a period of not exceeding four minutes. The strategy to increase the response time of ambulance services in the Emirate is in preparation to host Expo 2020 in Dubai”, Mr. Al Darrai added. 

Commenting on launching the service, Mr. Nijil Ibrahimkutty, CEO of ZGMRAS, said, “The service comes with the world’s best life-support medical equipment as per the requirements of scope of practice. Our Emergency Medical Technicians, drivers and other staff members are certified by DCAS.” 

“The  DCAS has licensed ZGMRAS to provide a range of services including pre-hospital medical services during emergency situations, pre-hospital medical services in business locations and project sites, and patient transport via ambulance vehicles,” he added. 

“The Emergency Medical Technicians are trained in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Trauma Life Support; while the drivers are trained in First Aid and Safe Driving in emergency situations. ZGMRAS Ambulances, which are built on Mercedes Benz chassis, are tracked 24/7 using GPS system. We are also implementing a world-class control and dispatch software soon,” Mr. Nijil further said. 

In Dubai, the ZGMRAS service is rolled out with the support of Emirates Transport as being the leasing partner for the fleet of ambulance vehicles. ZGMRAS’ international associate company -- Global Medical Response Inc. USA -- operates more than 4000 ambulances across 45 States in the USA, 80 plus ambulances in Trinindad and Tobago, and more than 1250 ambulances in India, in partnership with Ziqitza Health Care Limited.