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Flight Information
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Directorate of Health Erbil International Airport
E-mail:health.dir@hc.eia.krdPhone:07501446681 , 0662589167
Introduction
Directorate of health Erbil International Airport provides a 24/7 health services our fully equipped and well staffed medical center are operating 24 hours a day and swiftly respond whenever required, DOH EIA provides services through :-
Airport medical center:
- 24 hours medical services clinic is located in old airport provides a comprehensive range of health care services including clinic consultation, dental care, laboratory services, first aid, emergency services and vaccination.
- Approach any member of our airport staff and they will arrange for medical staff to come to you.
Ambulance:-
- In cases of emergences DOH EIA is served by a local medical center with an ambulance at hand at all time.
- Transporting patients by ambulance from the check point to the terminal zone and vice versa.
Arrival office:-
- Health staff in the arrival office provide services by giving vaccination against some infectious diseases.
- The medical staff using thermal camera to know any raise in body temperature especially for passengers from epidemic areas.
Departure office:-
- Providing 24 hours health services in the terminal zone for emergencies and first aid.
- When you travel while having a medical condition, a medical clearance (report) is required as follows:
* Fitness to travel is in doubt, as a result of recent illness, pregnancy, hospitalization, injury, surgery or instability of acute or chronic medical conditions.
* Special services are required, e.g. oxygen, stretcher or authority to carry or use accompanying medical equipment.
- For detail of any condition which needs medical clearance, for more please go to Perfect Information.
- Patients may need to bring a report from his/her doctor (specialist) clarifying that he/she can travel by plane without any problem or precautions.
- Report samples Click here
Legal affairs unit:
- Is responsible for every legal transactions of DOH EIA with taking legal pledges from food cargo owners (companies) whom already have been approved by health prevention unit after administrative transactions.
Aviation unit:
- This unit is specialized in supervising and doing all needed medical tests for every aviation and tower staff member when they are designated and annual medical tests.
Health prevention unit:
- Is responsible for all kind of vaccinations with supervising the imported and exported food and stuffs that are fit for human consumption. For more detail please go to health prevention unit.
Perfect Information
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Diagnosis |
Unfit to fly |
Medical clearance required |
Comments & Acceptance |
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Blood disorders |
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Anaemia |
Hb Less than 7.5g/dl |
Hb 7.5 - 10 g/dl |
If acutely anaemic, Hb level should be assessed more than 24 hours after last blood loss, which must have ceased. |
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Sickle cell disease |
Less than 10 days after Sickling crisis |
Within 10 days of sickling crisis |
Accepted for travel 10 days after sickling crisis if otherwise stable. |
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Cardiovascular and other Circulatory disorders |
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Angina |
Unstable angina, chest pain with minimal exertion |
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- Passengers with frequent chest pains should consult their doctor regarding their fitness to travel. - Must be stable and no angina at rest. - Have sufficient medications at hand to relief an angina attack. |
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Myocardial infarction |
Within 10 days |
All 4 weeks post-MI |
- Any cardiac failure? - Any Arrhythmia? - Any post-MI angina pain? - Is the heart size larger than normal? - Any pre-attack angina? If NO: Uncomplicated; may travel after 10 days. If YES: Complicated. Disposition depends on individual assessment (stability, success of stenting, escort proposed, etc.) |
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Cardiac Failure |
Uncontrolled chronic heart failure & Acute heart failure |
If require inflight oxygen. |
- Passengers with uncontrolled heart failure should consult their doctor regarding their fitness to travel. - Adequate control is someone that can walk 50 meters (50yards) or go up a flight of stairs on room air at a normal pace without breathlessness. Otherwise, inflight oxygen may need to be considered. |
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Angioplasty with or without Stenting |
Within 3 days |
Less than 7 days |
Elective, uncomplicated cases may travel: - 3 days after angioplasty - 5 days after stenting. |
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Open-chest Cardiac Surgery |
Within 10 days |
All require medical clearance during the 10 -21 days postoperative period. |
May travel after 10 days if uncomplicated. |
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Serious cardiac Arrhythmia (AF, SVT & VT) |
Within 7 days |
If Less than 21 days |
Does not include benign arrhythmias. |
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Pulmonary Oedema |
Unresolved |
If Less than 21 days |
Pulmonary oedema and any precipitating condition should be resolved. |
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Cyanotic congenital heart disease |
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All cases |
Inflight oxygen needs to be considered in all cases. |
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Angiography |
Less than 24 hours |
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May travel after 24 hours if original condition is stable. |
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Pacemaker insertion |
Within 2 days |
Within 7 days |
May travel after 2 days if: - NO Pneumothorax - Rhythm is stable. |
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Ablation therapy |
Within 2 days |
Within 7 days |
Passenger flying within 1 week of the procedure is considered at high risk of DVT. |
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) |
If active |
Confirmed or suspected needs medical clearance. |
Stable on Oral anticoagulants. |
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Pulmonary embolism |
Within 4 days of onset |
Less than 21 days |
May travel after 5 days if stable on anticoagulation medications. |
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Ear , Nose and Throat Conditions |
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Ear and sinus infections |
Acute illness or loss of Eustachian tube function |
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Must be able to clear ears with Valsalva maneuver. |
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Middle ear surgery |
Less than 10 days |
10 - 14 days after surgery |
Allowed to fly 10 days after surgery.
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Tonsillectomy |
Less than 5 days |
Only if complications |
Allowed to travel 6 days after surgery. |
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Wired jaw |
If travelling alone |
If wired |
The Escort or Self quick release wiring. |
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Eye Conditions |
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Corneal laser, Cataract surgery or other eye surgery |
Less than 24 hours |
1-3 days |
Can travel after one day. |
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Retinal Detachment Procedure |
Less than 10 days |
1- 10 days after surgery |
Allowed to travel 10 days after the procedure. |
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Penetrating eye injury |
Less than 7 days |
Less than 14 days |
Any gas in the globe must be reabsorbed. |
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Intra-ocular surgery |
Less than 6 days |
More than 7 days |
Any gas injected in the globe must be resorbed, for example: - Injection of SF6, a minimum of 2 weeks is required. - For C3F8, a minimum of 6 weeks is required; written specialist fitness to fly commercially is required. |
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Gastrointestinal Conditions |
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Gastrointestinal Bleeding |
Less than 24 hours after the bleeding |
1 to 10 days post-bleed. |
- Bleeding must have stopped. - Hemoglobin limits must be met. - Risks of rebleeding must be assessed and be acceptable. |
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Major Abdominal Surgery, for e.g. bowel resection, hysterectomy, renal, surgery, etc. |
Less than 10 days |
1 to 10 days post op. |
Accepted after 10 days if uncomplicated.
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Appendectomy |
Less than 4 days |
Only if complicated |
Accepted after 4 days if uncomplicated. |
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Laparoscopy (investigation) |
Less than 24 hours |
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Accepted after 24 hours if all gas absorbed. |
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Laparoscopic surgery (Keyhole), fo e.g. Cholecystectomy |
Less than 4 days |
1-10 days post op |
All gas must be absorbed. |
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Colostomies |
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Travelers with colostomies are not at increased risk during air travel although intestinal distension may increase faecal output. The use of a large colostomy bag is recommended. |
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Infectious Diseases |
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Infectious diseases |
During contagious stage of illness |
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Must be non-infectious. |
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Chicken pox |
If active lesions present |
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It is safe to travel when all exposed lesions are dried and crusted. |
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Neurological conditions |
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Epilepsy/Seizure |
Less than 24 hours after fit or unstable |
If suffered from an epileptic fit 24 hours before flight. |
Must be stable on medications. |
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TIA |
2 days or less |
After 2 days and proper investigation |
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Stroke |
Less than 3days post-stroke |
Within 10 days |
- May travel after 10 days if uncomplicated. - Possibly may have to travel with an escort. |
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Intracranial Surgery |
Less than 10 days post-op |
10-21 days |
- Not within 10 days of surgery. - May only travel if cranium is free of air. |
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Laminectomy & Discectomy |
Less than 3days post-op |
5 days |
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Pregnancy and New born |
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Single pregnancy |
After 36 weeks (i.e. 35 weeks and 6 days) |
Any complications |
Clearance not required before 36 weeks unless complicated, but medical certificate needed after 28 weeks. |
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Multiple pregnancy |
After 32 weeks (i.e. 31 weeks and 6 days) |
Any complications |
Clearance not required before 32 weeks unless complicated, but medical certificate needed after 28 weeks. |
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Miscarriage (threatened or complete) |
With active bleeding |
Within 7 days of bleeding |
Must be stable, no bleeding and no pain for at least 24 hours. |
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New born |
Less than 48 hours |
Within 7 days of birth |
Fit and healthy babies can travel after 48 hours, but preferably after 7 days. |
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Respiratory Conditions |
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Asthma |
Less than 48 hours after severe attack |
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- Must be stable and carry appropriate Medication in the handbag. - Please note “open circuit” nebulisers are not allowed to be used inflight. - If someone is unable to walk a distance greater than 50 metres without developing dyspnoea, there is a risk that they will be unable to tolerate the relative hypoxia of the pressurised cabin. |
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Chest surgery |
Less than 10 days |
Less than 28 days |
May travel after 10 days if uncomplicated recovery. |
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Pneumothorax |
Less than 14 days after full inflation. |
8-21 days after full inflation, if managed closed. |
- May not travel until 14 days after full lung inflation occurred if managed closed. - If chest drain in-situ, may travel with medical escort at any time if other injuries/conditions permit and equipment/spare drain are carried. |
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Chest tube |
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Chest drain in-situ, may travel with medical escort at any time if other injuries/conditions permit and equipment/spare drain are carried. |
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Pneumonia |
Acute, with symptoms |
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May travel if: - fully resolved OR - if x-ray signs persist, must be symptom free. - No longer infectious |
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COPD, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural effusion and haemothorax. |
· Cyanosis on the ground despite supplementary oxygen. · Unresolved recent exacerbation. |
· If unstable or poor exercise tolerance. · Within 7 days of recent exacerbation. |
-Accepted if: - Exercise tolerance more than 50 meters without dyspnoea AND - General condition adequate. - Full recovery if recent exacerbation. -Supplemental oxygen may be required inflight. |
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Tuberculosis |
Untreated or in the first two weeks of treatment |
After at least two weeks of appropriated treatment and asymptomatic |
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Cancer |
- Under active treatment (radio or chemo). - Pleural effusion. - Dyspneic at ground level. |
Asymptomatic |
Major hemoptysis is a contraindication |
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Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations |
If severe hypoxemic (SpO2 Less than 80% at ground level |
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Orthopedic |
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Full plaster cast (flight more than 2 hrs.) |
Less than 48 hours after injury |
more than 48hrs |
Comply also with anemia rules for fracture femur/pelvis i.e. HB 7.5 gm/dl. |
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Full plaster cast (flight less than 2 hrs.) |
less than 24 hours |
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Operation of lower limb fracture |
Less than 7 days |
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Because of increasing risk of DVT. |
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Arthroscopy |
Less than 5 days |
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If younger than 40 years and stable can travel after 2 days. |
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Joint replacement |
Less than 2 weeks |
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· Better to travel after 6 weeks to avoid the development of DVT (which is of higher risk in Hip joint replacement). · Better to travel as a stretcher case.
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Genitourinary system |
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Prostatectomy |
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After 3 days |
If urinary catheter is present, the content of the urinary bag should be clear and not containing any blood. |
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Renal operation (stone, cyst …….) |
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After 7 days |
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Supra-pubic Catheter |
If there is any blood |
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Miscellaneous |
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Burns |
· If still shocked · With widespread infection. · Greater than 20% total body surface. |
Within 7 days of burn or surgical treatment |
Must be medically stable and well in other respects. |
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Severe allergies or anaphylaxis |
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If any special accommodation required. |
Passenger should carry appropriate medications and be able to self administer them. |
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SpO2 |
Less than 80% (without a report from their own specialist) |
Less than 90% |
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IVF |
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The best time to travel is between 20 - 32 weeks gestation. |
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BP |
If diastolic pressure is more than 110 mmHg. |
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The following medical conditions generally do not require medical clearance providing they are stable and no special assistance is required: - Diabetes Mellitus (when the patient or the escort carry proper medication and needs, and been able to use them). - High cholesterol. - Arthritis. - Artificial limbs. - CV line |
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Health prevention unit
Instructions & Regulations of Health Prevention Division at the Directorate of Health-Erbil International Airport:
Health prevention Division is one of the major divisions of the Directorate of Health which concentrating its work on:
1. Supervising the import and export of food stuffs.
2. Monitoring wells inside the airport.
3. Monitoring airport’s restaurant and cafeteria.
Supervising the import and export of food:
The Division supervises the import and export of all kinds of food, which can be summed up as follows:
A) food for personal use:
It include foods carried by the passenger during the travel (departure or arrival) for the purpose of personal use for him or his family and not for sale purposes. The food is checked physically inside the airport (physicist examination includes color, smell, taste and expiry Date). After making sure that the food is safe for human consumption, an approval is granted provided that the weight between (1-20 kg). If the weight is more than the allowable limit, the person must pledge in writing that the food is not for sale.
B) general food:
Include foodstuffs that enter into the Kurdistan region through Erbil International Airport for commercial purposes (trade).
Before entering such goods the merchant must visit the Health prevention Division at the Directorate of health-Erbil International Airport or foodcontrol department in the Ministry of Health or the Central Laboratory of Erbil for getting information about the regulations & the required documents and certificates which includes:
1. Certificate of Origin.
2. Health certificate.
3. Analysis report of raw materials that included in the composition of the food item. And also for food stuffs which do not exist in the Iraqi standards.
4. The date of production and expiry date must be written as a laser print.
5. Ingredients of the food should be written on the card board or the packaging in one of the following languages (Kurdish, Arabic or English).
After making sure of the documents and certificates, a sample is taken and will be sent to the Central Laboratory of Erbil for the purpose of examination. After obtaining the results of the examination, the approval will be granted if the results conform to the Iraqi specifications. If not conformed to the Iraqi specifications the approval will be denied, and the owner must either:
A. Return the goods to its source.
B. Submit an application for ravaging the goods.