IMTJadmin - 07/03/2008 11:43
International SOS was born in the mid-1980s in response to Southeast Asia’s growing demand for international standards of healthcare from the expatriate business and diplomatic community.
Today the company employs over 5,000 staff, including 1,800 full-time doctors, nurses, medics and aero-medical specialists, working across five continents, with operating companies in 70 countries.
The company provides day-to-day healthcare services for international business operations and individual clients, as well as an extensive global referral network.
Dr Jeffrey Staples, medical director, consulting services, Asia, International SOS, says: “International SOS is one of the early pioneers of medical travel. More than 20 years ago, we started our aero-medical evacuation and referral business, developing a network of thoroughly vetted preferred providers in centres of medical excellence, and transporting patients to them.
“Medical tourism is a fast-growing field, which appears to have significant room for continued growth and maturation for the foreseeable future. We have competition in the area of aero-medical transport, but no company comes close to International SOS in the range of services we provide to corporations, governments, insurance companies and individuals. From emergency medical services to lifestyle and healthcare management, we are the only company that provides an integrated solution. I am, personally, not aware of any assistance company that is pursuing the medical tourism field. I believe that this is currently being driven by hospitals and (medical) travel agents.” ... this article by Kenny Coyle and featured in Issue 3 of IMTJ continues online at
http://www.imtjonline.com/zine/home/rapid-response
