Dubai based VPS Healthcare has secured healthcare contract for month long IPL (Indian Premier League) 2021 for second year in a row. The UAE leg of the cricket event will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah from September 9 to October 15. VPS Healthcare is experienced in offering comprehensive COVID -19 solutions for IPL in 2020, and its package for the cricket teams will include setting up, implementing, and monitoring RT-PCR testing for all personnel associated with the event.

Sharing the details with Gulf News, Dr Shajir Gaffar, CEO of VPS Healthcare (Dubai and Northern Emirates), says, “Our team is completely equipped to take care of the medical needs of the IPL participants. As experienced health-care providers, we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for the players and other BCCI stakeholders throughout the tournament. We are confident that we can provide a great sporting experience for this year’s IPL as well.”

He added, “Even in these challenging times, the country is setting new benchmarks in expertly managing international sports tournaments in its state-of-the art stadia, watertight measures and well-trained personnel. With the second leg of the IPL and ICC T20 World Cup happening here back-to-back, the UAE can further consolidate its pioneering position as a safe global sporting destination.”

Elaborate COVID -19 screening

To ensure a safe experience, VPS Healthcare has made elaborate arrangements in all hospitals in network across the cities hosting the IPL. As the official medical partner of BCCI, the group will provide broad array of services including emergency medical services, sports medicine support, musculoskeletal imaging, specialist tele-consultation, doctor-on-call and ambulance/air ambulance support. The group has set up a 100-member multi-disciplinary team for sports medicine and COVID-19 management. Two medical teams of doctors, nurses, paramedics and lab technicians will be assigned for every match to each stadium.

Strict testing Protocol

Despite shorter schedule in UAE this year, the rescheduled IPL will have increased COVID-19 testing. Before arrival of the players, VPS Healthcare has completed testing for over 750 hotel staff across 14 hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Starting from August 13, VPS began testing the players of the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings teams. Under updated protocol players and officials will need to get tested once every three days, bringing the anticipated number to over 30,000 PCR tests this year. The healthcare provider has the capacity to conduct 2000 PCR tests for the IPL each day. To ensure secure bio bubbles, nurses and other medical staff are accommodated in the same 14 hotels as the players till the end of the IPL.

Health emergencies

Last year during IPL 2020 season, VPS Healthcare had handled 80 hospital visits and facilitated the treatment of 156 injuries across its hospitals. After that the group offered COVID-related services for other international sports events like the UAE Tour cycling, AFC Champions League group stage matches, Abu Dhabi T10 and UFC.

Response Plus Medical, the group’s on-site medical team, will offer ambulance/air ambulance support during the matches. Injured players will be provided care at VPS hospitals in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah while those requiring the air ambulance facility will be taken to Burjeel Medical City.

Gulf News