Roy Medical Assistance and WorldWide Medical have announced an international third-party administration (TPA) agreement in 16 countries.

Under the agreement, Roy Medical Assistance will provide International medical assistance services to WorldWide Medical including International TPA, Cost Containment, Claims Management and Emergency Assistance. 

Roy Medical Assistance CEO Sumit Gaurav comments, "We are proud to have built an excellent international cooperation with WorldWide Medical. We believe in delivering best in class support and assistance to their clients in Asia and Middle East. We are able to offer a strong solution to their insurance clients. We look forward to working with Worldwide Medical teams. “

Worldwide Medical was established in 1999, with the vision of becoming the leaders in the areas of international health and life insurance in Latin America. Today, WorldWide Medical has a successful product portfolio and excellent financial strength ratings endorsed by global rating agencies. WorldWide Medical has a network of more than 10,000 hospitals around the world, in addition to strategic alliances with the largest reinsurers in the world. WorldWide Medical has offices in Panamá and the Dominican Republic, under the brand of Worldwide Seguros, and Guatemala, Paraguay and Bolivia through strategic partners.

For Fernando Joa, CEO of WorldWide Group, the alliance with Roy Medical Assistance means reinforcing the WorldWide's mission of guaranteeing access to the best global medical care for its policyholders. “Guaranteeing access to the most reputable health centers worldwide in the best times for care remain as the elements that distinguish us, so, through this alliance, we continue to reinforce excellence in service and empathy towards the insured client."

About Roy Medical Assistance

Roy Medical Assistance is a well-known International TPA in Asia and the Middle East and is connected in major countries including China, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri-Lanka, Maldives, UAE, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong and Myanmar.

Founded in 2016 in India, on the idea that we deliver the quality and affordable healthcare, around the world in best possible way to the travellers, expatriates, diplomats, students, and employees of corporates. We know that we can provide the best quality and affordable patient care by providing real-time and round the clock medical services in our vast network of hospitals around the globe along with best Case and Claims management. For this our management team and our multi-lingual call centres are available to you 24/7/365.

AP Companies Group has announced that it has concluded negotiations with Continental Health Management USA to acquire Continental Health Management LLC – experienced and successful health assistance and cost containment company in the United States.

"We are excited and happy to be able to expand AP Companies range of services offered in the US with unique opportunity to add Continental Health Management to our group of Companies. This acquisition is a clear accelerator for our ongoing development and presence on US market, client portfolio transformation and is in line with AP global development strategy. It also enables us to rapidly develop our footprint locally in the US " said Natalya Butakova, CEO of AP Companies Global Solutions.

"Continental Health Management is a company that is purpose-driven and shares our vision of improving our member’s life around the Globe. We look forward to capitalizing on the significant growth opportunities we see for medical assistance business in the United States»

AP Companies is to offer accuracy & transparency in Health Payments in USA.

AP Companies continues to be a leader in both pre and post pay claim review and repricing, combining clinical expertise and cost containment solutions with acquisition of Continental Health Management. AP Companies offers it’s long-standing Clients incremental value, experience, and a sincere dedication now extended to US market, making AP USA a partner of choice.

CEGA, a Charles Taylor company, expands medical team to meet demand from travel and international health insurers.

Assistance, claims and travel risk management provider CEGA, a Charles Taylor company, has added two new doctors to its in-house medical team; enhancing its global provision for travel and international health insurers.

Dr Fiona Gillespie and Dr Chris Busuttil, emergency medicine consultants at Royal Sussex County Hospital and Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth respectively, are the latest recruits to join CEGA's in-house medics.

CEGA's substantial team of doctors and nurses provide medical assistance and repatriation services to thousands of individuals every year (many in remote and offshore destinations) on behalf of travel and international health insurers. They also work closely with in-house cost containment and claims teams to validate medical bills from overseas hospitals.

CEGA's Chief Medical Officer Dr Lynn Gordon comments, "Extending our multi-skilled medical team reinforces our ability to support a growing number of global clients and their customers with the excellent service they expect.

"We ensure that all our doctors have experience of emergency or remote medicine and that many currently work in an NHS environment - demonstrating our commitment to provide the very best care to those in need, wherever they are in the world."

Read more news and press releases from CEGA on their iPMI Magazine company micro website, click here.  

Breakthrough regional partnership between AIA and Medix, a company specialising in quality global medical management, to provide improved healthcare and clinical outcomes for AIA customers.

AIA Group Limited (“AIA” or the “Company”: stock code: 1299) has announced that its customers across the Asia-Pacific region are set to benefit from a landmark partnership agreement with global health management company Medix. AIA and Medix are partnering to deliver a differentiated proposition that optimises care and improves medical outcomes for AIA customers across the region. Under the expanded regional partnership, building on already successful collaborations between AIA and Medix in Hong Kong and Singapore, AIA and Medix will work together to launch in more markets in 2019, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. Additional markets are planned for launch in 2020 and beyond.

Under the exclusive partnership with Medix, selected AIA customers will have access to “Personal Medical Case Management Services” during some of the most challenging times of their lives. When diagnosed with a serious or complex condition AIA customers will be supported by a dedicated case team throughout their medical journey, from diagnosis through treatment until full recovery. They will gain access to a holistic medical assessment, re-evaluation of their condition, referral for additional diagnostic testing – where needed, ongoing multi-disciplinary consultations, full care coordination, on-going guidance and emotional support provided by Medix’ team of renowned medical experts from around the globe.

Eligible AIA customers will have their medical case reviewed by Medix’ expert team of 300 in-house physicians and a global quality accredited network of over 3,000 world-leading and independent medical specialists, ensuring they have the tools to make educated, quality driven decisions and receive the best possible care throughout their medical journey, anywhere in the world.

Ng Keng Hooi, AIA’s Group Chief Executive and President, said the announcement underscores AIA’s commitment to meet the growing and changing needs of customers and to help people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.

“With the advances in medical treatments and technologies, the expectations of Asian consumers have changed significantly, with personalised, quality medical care at the top of their list. This strategic partnership with Medix exemplifies our leadership role in driving economic and social development across the region. It demonstrates our pledge to go beyond the traditional, passive insurance business model by becoming an integral part of our customers’ life journey” he said.

Mark Saunders, AIA’s Group Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer with responsibility for healthcare underlined AIA’s strategy and deliberate investment in helping improve the health and well-being of its customers, saying “AIA’s expanded partnership with Medix represents a significant step forward in delivering our long-term strategic vision in the health and well-being space, where we’ve invested significantly and consistently over the past several years. It builds on a highly successful partnership in Hong Kong and Singapore, where we’ve been able to provide Medix’ unparalleled medical case management services to our customers.

“To successfully deliver on our vision to help people be healthier for longer we are building an eco-system of services and partners to help people on all steps of the health journey through predict, prevent, diagnose, treat and recover stages, improving their overall wellbeing. Our exclusive partnership with Medix across our markets enhances AIA’s distinctive and differentiated proposition in health and well-being. By providing our policyholders with Personal Medical Case Management AIA helps overcome local healthcare disparities and makes international expertise, locally available through a mutually beneficial collaborative process” Saunders said.

Sigal Atzmon, CEO of Medix commended AIA’s visionary and innovative approach to driving meaningful improvements in people’s lives across the region.

“This is a partnership that will make a genuine difference; it represents a shared vision and a commitment to reduce unwarranted healthcare variations across the region, improve the medical accessibility, medical outcomes and most importantly, improve the overall care experience” Ms Atzmon said.

“Through this partnership, we provide personalised medical care, empower patients with the knowledge and tools they deserve to make educated decisions and offer active coverage in the daily lives of each policyholder. As such, we are enabling an unprecedented democratisation of the entire healthcare landscape.

“AIA, as one of the world’s largest and leading insurers should be applauded for the courageous, pioneering spirit they have shown over the last 100 years. Their vision and commitment to improving the lives of their customers/people across the region is unwavering and we are honoured to be a part of their next chapter,” Ms Atzmon concluded.

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Macau, Brunei, Cambodia, a 97 per cent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, a 49 per cent joint venture in India and a representative office in Myanmar.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$230 billion as of 31 December 2018.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia-Pacific, AIA serves the holders of more than 33 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

About Medix Medical Services 

Established in 2006, the Medix Group is a global, leading provider of innovative, high quality health management solutions. With offices in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Melbourne and a client base exceeding 3 million members in over 90 countries, Medix offers its clients -- primarily global health & life insurers, financial groups, large corporates and government institutions -- significant value-added services in the world of healthcare. Medix’ medical team is comprised of 300 in-house doctors alongside nurses, research experts, medical administration teams and a quality accredited global network of over 3,000 specialists and 1,500 leading hospitals.

Through its various services, Medix offers its customers fast-track solutions to proven better medical outcomes. Medix provides Global Personal Case Management Services, Disease Prevention Management Services, Digital Health Solutions, Home Care Services, Health Strategy and Medical Governance Services to insurers, large corporates and government institutions.

Medix is a Shared Value company that strives to enable people around the world to have access to the best medical care possible while eliminating unwarranted healthcare variations and helping to control medical cost inflation. Believing that the accessibility, quality and sustainability of medical care are one of the most important components of social rights, Medix is very passionate about these issues and is globally fully dedicated to these activities.

Collinson has further enhanced its medical assistance capability through a partnership with Aspen Medical, an Australian-owned global healthcare leader providing remote medical solutions across a range of sectors.

Aspen Medical provides innovative and tailored healthcare services, from the provision of a single paramedic to a full spectrum solution involving a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Further services include, ambulances, medical facilities, equipment, consumables, pharmacy products and aero-medical evacuation services (AME), including the company's own strategically-positioned clinics and aviation assets.

Often working in locations that are remote, challenging or under-resourced, its multi award-winning solutions provide clients with world-class healthcare services in any setting. The partnership will enable Collinson to extend its assistance reach and help customers to access quality medical services in locations where existing medical infrastructure is lacking. By augmenting Aspen Medical's ground-level capability with the wider Collinson global medical and evacuation network and its 24/7 always-on medical and security operations centres, the partnership will create a fully comprehensive assistance service for complex international deployments.

Aspen Medical's services also include managing environmental and public health projects, medical training and consultancy, providing occupational health and supporting major sporting events and conferences that need dedicated clinical support.

Scott Sunderman, Head of Assistance at Collinson, commented: "Aspen Medical is renowned for its high-profile contracts with defence, mining, oil and gas, government and humanitarian organisations. From running trauma hospitals in Mosul, Iraq, for the WHO or staffing and managing a UN facility for its personnel in Somalia, through to supporting the UK, US, Australian and New Zealand governments on the construction and management of Ebola Treatment facilities in Sierra Leone and Liberia, our partnership with Aspen Medical truly gives us a global healthcare reach and access to expertise unparalleled in the market.

"This experience will be vital as we broaden our global medical assistance and travel risk management services to ensure clients have the best possible protection, wherever they may be located."

This strategic alliance further enhances Collinson's new 24/7/365 integrated travel risk management solution in partnership with global risk and security consultancy, Drum Cussac, as well as the appointment of its new Global Medical Director, Simon Worrell.

Glenn Keys, Executive Chairman and co-founder of Aspen Medical, said: "Collinson is recognised globally for providing an exceptional medical assistance service. This partnership with Collinson further develops Aspen Medical's global capability with an integrated travel risk management solution. When combined with Drum Cussac's expertise, their global assistance App, security alerts, location tracking and monitoring, together we are delivering a very powerful new capability in the market for those seeking assistance in times of need."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against a counterfeit anti rabies vaccine circulating in the Philippines right now.

This time of year, many travelers travel to the East, but the risk for tourists of getting this counterfeit vaccine is minimal.

SOS International has responded urgently to the warning and contacted its local partners and suppliers in the area and they all confirm that the fake vaccines have not been utilised at any of SOS International’s preferred hospitals or clinics.

The vaccine itself is considered to be pure placebo and thus has no particular side effects or consequences, however there can be a risk of not being protected against rabies. The Department of Health is in the process of identifying the individuals who received the vaccine in order to give them proper treatment.

This underlines the importance of travellers contacting the alarm centre of their insurance company when in need of medical assistance abroad. This ensures that they are referred to proper clinics and hospitals and that they receive the right treatment and the right level of treatment.

In 2018, SOS International assisted more than 800 travellers in the Philippines.

Facts on rabies

• Rabies virus is found in the saliva of the infected animal. The infection is transmitted through bites or, in rare instances, by scratching or by spitting in the eyes or in open wounds.
• Rabies is associated with lethal inflammation of the brain and an almost 100 percent of fatality, so receiving treatment immediately after the exposure is of a paramount importance.
• Rabies may be prevented by immunisation.

Read also: 

Thailand optrapper kampen mod rabies (DK)

Thailand trapper opp kampen mot rabies (NO)

Thailand trappar upp kampen mot rabies (SE)

Thaimaa tehostaa rabieksen torjuntaa (FI)

International SOS and Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore) have signed a partnership agreement. The two parties will work together to assist the members of the association to protect the health and safety of employees, raise awareness of risk prevention in overseas operations, and enhance the commercial resilience of business operations.

Chinese enterprises are paying more attention to overseas operations. International SOS will provide medical and security risk prevention and management solutions for members of the association. It will help Chinese enterprises to reduce overseas operational risks and support them with their “go global” strategies from their bases in Singapore. 

Leaders of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore participated in the signing ceremony, under the joint witness of a number of government officials, business and international SOS representatives. Qiu Zhikun, president of the Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore), and Tan Mui Huat, President and CEO, Asia, International SOS, signed the partnership agreement. At the same time, the Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore) also recognised International SOS as their 'Travel Safety and Health Ambassador'.

Chinese companies have adopted Singapore as one of the footholds for internationalisation. In the process of expanding their business to the Asia-Pacific region, and the world, there is a need for professional organisations to help them carry out medical and travel safety management. In response to the needs of Chinese companies expanding overseas, International SOS has also designed integrated medical and safety based on the “3A model” – Assess, Advice and Assist. Risk prevention and control solutions help companies effectively identify, prevent and respond to risks and enhance the sustainable development of business operations.”

According to the agreement, International SOS will provide members of the association with practical training on medical safety skills and share cutting-edge information; actively participate in and assist the association to organise first-aid training, health promotion lectures; provide medical and travel security risk management advice and assistance to members of the association. It will support Chinese organisations to enable better fulfilment of Duty of Care obligations and achieve sustainable development of the company.

Qiu Zhikun, president of the Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore), said: “Singapore is one of the preferred foreign investment destinations for Chinese companies and an important platform for Chinese companies to go global. The complex security environments and different standards for medical facilities overseas pose a challenge to the medical, health and safety of the employees of Chinese enterprises. The Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore) is pleased to sign a memorandum of understanding with International SOS to jointly safeguard the new security operations and overseas business development of Chinese enterprises."

Tan Mui Huat, President and CEO, Asia, International SOS, said: "International SOS has a global service network and solutions to provide comprehensive health and safety protection for employees and promote the sustainable growth of global business. International SOS is pleased to partner with Chinese Enterprise Association (Singapore) to provide members with world-class service, advanced management perspectives and best practices for overseas risk prevention and management, provide security for new operations in China, and develop smoothly in Asia Pacific and globally."

After the signing of the memorandum, International SOS held the "Travel Risk Outlook 2019 Seminar". This discussed new changes, new challenges and new programmes in the Asia-Pacific region and global health and safety risks in 2019. The conference also provided risk mitigation recommendations to help Chinese companies cope with the various security and medical risks that their growing global workforce may encounter.

Healix International, the global travel risk management and international medical and security assistance provider, has signed up to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC); a voluntary commitment from businesses to act in an environmentally and socially responsible way. The largest initiative of its type, 9,933 companies across 160 countries have joined so far, since it was announced by Kofi Annan in 1999.

Healix International’s decision to sign up for the UNGC demonstrates the company’s commitment to operating in an ethical manner.

Companies signing up to the UNGC are committing to taking a principles-based approach to doing business.  The 10 principles of the UNGC are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other global programmes and strategies to create a framework that expects businesses to operate in ways that meet fundamental responsibilities, in terms of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

Healix International CEO, Mike Webb, said: “This is an opportunity for Healix International to continue to enhance the way it does business by incorporating the 10 Principles of the UNGC into our policies, procedures and strategies. We are excited to align our business with these universal principles and will be submitting a yearly communication of our progress.

“Crucially, this commitment forms part of our focus on building a company culture based on integrity and recognising our responsibility to humanity and the planet as a whole. We firmly believe this is the best way to build a sustainable business focused on long-term success.”

More Healix International News, check their micro web site on iPMI Magazine, click here.

Collinson has appointed Dr Simon Worrell to the position of Global Medical Director to lead its medical services department.

Dr Worrell has over 20 years of experience in the delivery of international medical assistance and emergency care, and also brings significant specialist expertise in immunology and communicable diseases. He joins Collinson from Healix.

In his new role, Simon will lead Collinson’s medical team and provide advice on medical issues, including pandemics from Ebola to Zika, helping to keep travellers and expatriates safe as they work and holiday internationally.

The appointment of a new Global Medical Director coincides with Collinson’s recent launch of its integrated 24/7/365 travel risk management solution in partnership with Drum Cussac, the global risk and security consultancy. This aims to help organisations fulfil their duty of care and enhance the wellbeing of employees travelling abroad.

Simon’s expertise will strengthen the medical elements of Collinson’s travel risk management solution such as pre-travel disease and vaccination briefings, emergency evacuations and international medical assistance. 

Scott Sunderman, Head of Assistance at Collinson, commented: “Simon’s appointment demonstrates our continued commitment to providing world leading medical advice and medical care to our customers globally.”

Simon spent eight years at Healix as Deputy Chief Medical Officer, having led its medical intelligence and publication efforts, and pioneered eLearning courses in communicable and infectious disease management. He also worked in NHS hospitals for nine years, where he specialised in the management of communicable diseases. 

Simon added: “I’m truly delighted to join Collinson; its ability to provide travellers and expatriates with what they need to be happy, safe and prepared for working and holidaying abroad, is unique in the marketplace. I’m looking forward to bolstering our existing global assistance capacity and footprint by expanding the medical team and promoting Collinson as the go-to firm for medical assistance.”

For further information on Collinson’s global medical and security expertise please click here.