International SOS signs agreement with PICC

11 November 2010

Hong Kong - International SOS, the world’s leading international healthcare, medical assistance, and security services company, has signed an agreement with the People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Ltd (PICC) to provide emergency medical services for the 16th Asian Games (XVI Asiad) taking place in Guangzhou and co-hosted in Dongguan, Foshan and Shanwei.

Medical assistance services will be provided by International SOS for all participants, officials and volunteers visiting from abroad during XVI Asiad, said to be the largest in history - athletes will participate in 476 events in 42 sports - and takes place from 12 to 27 November 2010.

“International SOS is proud to be involved in the highly prestigious Asian Games and again working with PICC, a valuable partner, to provide medical assistance to all visiting athletes, delegates, officials, volunteers and other participants from outside China,” said Eliza Kwok, Managing Director, International SOS, China.

Previously, International SOS and PICC worked together in providing similar services during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. They successfully completed five medical repatriation cases. This is a valuable experience and can help pave the way for delivery of proven services at Guangzhou Asian Games.

“Helping to realise XVI Asiad’s ‘Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia’ mission, risk management and security assurance are of utmost importance. The partnership between PICC and International SOS helps facilitate a successful event with quality medical and security services”, said Ye Jianming, vice-general manager, PICC Guangdong branch.

Under the agreement, International SOS will provide evacuation and repatriation, emergency medical advice, travel health information, medical and dental referrals, outpatient case management, innoculation information, lost luggage reporting, lost document advice and assistance, emergency hotel and / or air ticket booking and emergency translation and interpretation assistance.

In the last two decades International SOS has provided medical and security services to a string of prestigious, mass-participant and high profile events such as the Olympic Games in Beijing, Sydney and Athens, The Paralympics, the South East Asian Games, ASEAN Games, various APEC summits, and others.

About International SOS

International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com) is the world’s leading international healthcare, medical assistance, and security services company. Operating in over 70 countries, International SOS provides integrated medical, clinical, and security solutions to organizations with international operations. Services include planning and preventative programs, in-country expertise, and emergency response. A global team of 7,000 employees led by 970 full-time physicians and 200 security specialists provides health and security support to enable its members to operate wherever they work or travel. Members include 69 percent of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

Established in Hong Kong since 1989, the International SOS Hong Kong alarm centre provides 24-hour travel assistance to travelers around the world with three full time doctors stationed around the clock. In 2009, the centre received over 90,000 calls for medical assistance and handled over 27,000 medical cases. Over 700 cases were evacuation/ repatriation.

bout PICC

Founded in 1949, PICC is a group of integrated insurance and financial services companies, with registered capital of Renminbi 15.5 billion yuan. Making dedicated effort over the previous 61 years, the group has become an insurance and financial services conglomerate, with substantial influence both inside and outside China. Currently it has nine subsidiaries including PICC Property & Casualty Co., Ltd, PICC Asset Management Co., Ltd, PICC Health Insurance Co., Ltd, PICC Life Insurance Co., Ltd, PICC Investment Holding Co., Ltd, PICC Hong Kong, Zhongsheng International Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd, China Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd and Zhong Yuan Insurance Brokers.