An SOS mission of carrying an injured traveler to an urgent aid center. The company has repatriated ill Chinese from overseas. Zhou Guoqiang / China Daily

Healthcare specialist joins growing trend to 'go west'

Medical and travel security risk company International SOS opened its new office on June 6 in Chengdu to further expand its business into China's western region.

"We want to use the new office in Chengdu as a hub for western China," said Arnaud Vaissi, co-founder and chief executive official of the company.

As a company helping organizations to look after the health and security of their international travelers and expatriates, International SOS has more than 20 years of experience in China with five international-standard medical clinics and two 24-hour assistance centers.

Vaissi said the company realized that China's business is moving to the west and Chengdu is the city most cited in most "go west" plans.

"Based on market surveys, we realized this is the place with the highest level of interest to our clients, so we chose Chengdu," he said, noting local people are very open to foreigners and overseas businesses.

As the medical partner of the Fortune Global Forum, held in Chengdu from June 6 to 8, International SOS announced the official opening of its Chengdu branch on the eve of the grand business gathering.

It is "just right on time", Vaissi said.

"We started business in China about 17 years ago by offering services for foreign companies operating in the country," said Vaissi. "Now, more than half of what we do here is for Chinese companies that go overseas.

"As increasing number of Chinese companies are expand their businesses in overseas markets such as Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world, they require more medical and healthcare services."

Although currently Chinese clients account for only about 5 percent of total at International SOS, the ratio is growing rapidly.

"It is expected that the number of our Chinese clients will more than double in the next five years," said Vaissi.

International SOS's annual revenue is about $1.5 billion globally.

And at a time when Chinese companies are increasingly going overseas, the country will be a large growth region for the company, said John Williams, managing director of International SOS China.

He said the Ministry of Health has implemented a number of policies to improve the country's healthcare system and there are many reforms in the pipeline.

"China is not alone in reforming healthcare," he said. "We see the same in the United States and Europe. It is a common discussion all over the world."

International SOS is the medical services partner for more than 100 Chinese companies and government agencies, looking after their Chinese expatriates and business travelers abroad. The company has partnered with Chinese government agencies since 2006.

Over the years, International SOS has assisted Chinese government agencies with employee medical challenges, and facilitated treatment and evacuations from Ghana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Brunei.

Globally, the company has clients in more than 700 locations in 76 countries, providing services with more than 10,000 employees led by 1,200 physicians and 200 security specialists.

dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn