Ukraine Emergency: 100 Ukrainian patients received in Italy, patient transfers managed by CROSS through MedEvac

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 11, 2022

For the Ukraine Emergency, the Civil Defence activated CROSS, and through it managed the patients in MEDEVAC, transporting them to Italy

The role of CROSS in the urgent medical assistance of Ukrainian citizens

The CROSS – the Remote Centre for Medical Relief Operations – activated by the Civil Protection Department for the coordination of urgent medical relief of Ukrainian citizens, is continuing to ensure the transfer of patients in countries neighbouring Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the emergency, 100 patients have been transported by MedEvac – Medical Evacuation, thanks to 14 air missions carried out by the Guardia di Finanza and private carriers.

In particular, from 28 March to 8 April, a total of 42 patients were transferred, assisted by the health services of the regions of Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany, Lazio, Marche, Abruzzo and Emilia-Romagna.

The CROSS and the survey of available beds in the different areas of Italy

The CROSS, within the framework of the European Civil Protection Mechanism and in response to the specific request of the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission (DG SANTE), will continue, in liaison with the regional health referents, the reconnaissance of available beds in the Regions and Autonomous Provinces and the organisation of the transfer of patients.

In addition, the Disevac – Disability Evacuation – service of the Misericordie of Italy continues: a service that guarantees the protected and assisted evacuation of fragile, non-ambulatory people with wheelchairs and bedridden people on stretchers from the Polish-Ukrainian border to Italy.