Helipads required at private hospitals with 100 beds or more

AMMAN — Private hospitals containing more than 100 beds are required to have helipads to enable helicopters to drop off patients, a ministry official said on Monday.

A new by-law published recently in the Official Gazette stipulates that private hospitals with 100 beds or more should have their own helipads. 

The amended by-law for private hospitals entails reviewing hospitals around the country and licensing those with 100 beds or more to enable them to build their own helipads for air ambulance purposes.

Hatem Azrui, the Ministry of Health’s spokesperson, said there are 104 public and private hospitals around the Kingdom.

He added that the number of hospitals in Jordan with fewer than 100 beds is low and that most newly-built hospitals have helipads. 

Private Hospitals Association Executive Director Abdullah Hindawi said of the total number of hospitals, 64 are in the private sector, noting that those equipped with helipads are only located in Amman.

 “The rule applies to new hospitals and those that have enough space to accommodate a helipad,” Hindawi told The Jordan Times in a phone interview.

He said the association will follow up on the hospitals that are set to build helipads and supervise the process.

The helipads should be away from residential areas and have the suitable ground and dimensions to safely accommodate a helicopter, according to Jordan Air Ambulance Centre CEO Rami Adwan.

“The slope measurements next to each hospital should be fit to receive helicopters on a gradual landing,” he added.

There are 35 helipads in the Kingdom, Adwan noted, adding that six of them are in the capital — four of which are in Al Hussein Medical City, one at Prince Hamzah Hospital and one at Jordan Hospital. 

The remaining helipads across the country are in different locations, with around five situated in border areas, Adwan told The Jordan Times.