SERVICES / MEDICAL CARE
SOS sees potential in Thailand

The presence in Thailand of International SOS, the world’s leading provider of medical assistance, international health-care, security services and outsourced customer care, may surprise many who are not aware that it has an office here. But what they will find more astonishing is the range of services it has to offer, which span far beyond the medical-care, evacuation and repatriation services it is best known for.

Its customers today are spoiled by choices: from sending a bouquet of roses or gifts on the Valentine’s’s Day, importing pedigreed puppies, retrieving golf bags during a trip and breaking house locks to fixing pipes.

”Given our worldwide infrastructure and far-reaching domestic network, we can provide extensive assistance to our customers from medical assistance, air ambulance, health-care management, security assistance, roadside assistance and home assistance to any special assignments,” said Pipat Kananuwat, managing director of International SOS Services (Thailand).

International SOS first opened its office in Bangkok in 1986, and was five years later upgraded into a full-scale alarm centre in response to the growing need for local and international assistance.

The expansion of its business prompted the company to move to new premises in 1999, which were purpose-built for emergency services. The facilities include sophisticated telecommunication systems, software application support, and an expanded store for specialised transport equipment.

International SOS can save a life but it can also deliver roses or pedigreed puppies.

International SOS currently serves a potential five million members locally, mainly clients of financial institutions, insurance firms, automobile companies, telecom firms, petrochemical companies, pharmaceutical firms and big corporations such as Siam Cement Group.

In particular, it is recognised as the major medical-assistance provider to the oil-and-gas industry in Thailand. The services the company provides to the sector cover first-aid training, paramedic and doctor staffing, site surveys, medical consultation and assessment, medical check-ups and testing.

To name a few, the company’s clients include Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank, Krung Thai Card, Siam Commercial Bank, HSBC, American International Assurance (AIA), Thai Life Insurance, Bupa, Yamaha, Ford, Michelin, AIS, PTT Exploration and Production, Chevron, Roche, Starbucks and Four Seasons Hotel.

Worldwide, International SOS provides key services to 82% of the Fortune Global 100 and 64% of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

With headquarters in Singapore and London, it operates 14 regional centres, offices in 61 cities, 26 international clinics, 27 alarm centres that work around the clock, a worldwide network of providers, and 10 dedicated air ambulances.

According to Mr Pipat, to serve rising demand in Thailand, International SOS this year is looking to add a new jet dedicated specifically to Thailand’s operations.

Pipat: We can provide it all

”Due to the high standards of medical care available in Bangkok, our alarm centre is now a hub of medical excellence for Indochina, Bangladesh and Southeast China,” he said. ”We have access to charter aircraft and helicopters throughout Thailand to provide immediate response to emergency situations, domestically and internationally, including secured helicopter-landing rights at major hospitals in Bangkok.”

According to Mr Pipat, International SOS last year provided more than 400 remote intensive-care and evacuation services for the customers in neighbouring countries including Thai citizens travelling in those countries.

That partially helped boost the company’s sales by 39% in its last fiscal year, said Mr Pipat, who was upbeat that sales would remain in good shape this year.

”The growth prospect for International SOS is immense, as awareness, particularly among local corporations and insurance firms is increasing. Mobile medical assistance and evacuations are no longer just promotion, but the value-added products for the core products of those industries,” he said.

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