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International SOS Conducts First Cross-Straits Air Medical Evacuation

International SOS is pleased to announce that it has carried out the first direct cross-straits medical evacuation since the signing of an agreement [1] between China and Taiwan earlier this year, allowing direct air access by chartered flights across the Taiwan Straits for emergency medical rescue.

A medical specialist team from International SOS Beijing, comprising an Intensive-Care-Unit trained doctor and flight nurse arrived in Guangzhou at 1100 hours today on a dedicated air ambulance, a Hawker 800XP, to escort the patient home to Taiwan. The patient is scheduled to arrive in Taipei at 1840 hours.

Upon arrival in Taipei, a medical team comprising a doctor and nurse from International SOS Taiwan is on standby to receive the patient and escort him to the local hospital.

The patient was a 71-year-old Taiwanese man who suffered a stroke while visiting relatives in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. His family contacted International SOS on September 9, 2006. After reviewing his medical reports and consulting the local treating doctor in Dongguan, International SOS doctors recommended that the patient be evacuated home on an air ambulance, escorted by medical specialists to ensure that the patient’s medical condition remain stable throughout the flight.

International SOS alarm centres in Beijing and Taipei worked closely with the patient’s families in Dongguan and Taipei, the local treating doctor in Dongguan and the receiving hospital in Taipei to ensure that the patient arrived home safely.

Dr Charles Van Reenen, Medical Director, North Asia Region, International SOS said: “Prior to the availability of a direct service across the Taiwan Straits, patients who are required to be evacuated or repatriated to Taiwan from Southern China have to travel by road ambulance to Shenzhen or Macau before they can be transported by commercial or charter flight to Taiwan. In this particular case, the travel time is reduced by three to four hours because we no longer have to do a stopover, go through customs clearance and transfer the patient from the road ambulance to the air ambulance.”

International SOS launched a Cross-Straits Emergency Medical Rescue Service in June 28, 2006, which operates direct flights by chartered passenger aircraft across the Taiwan Straits for emergency medical cases.

[1] The agreement was signed by China’s Cross-Straits Aviation Transport Exchange Council and the Taipei Airlines Association on June 14, 2006.

About International SOS
International SOS has global operations in over 65 countries, spanning five continents. The company provides clients with a comprehensive portfolio of medical and security services to ensure that people travelling and working internationally have access to immediate help. International SOS' services range from 24-hour medical advice, referrals to qualified doctors and hospitals as well as provision of emergency medical and security evacuations when there is a critical illness, accident or civil unrest.

Last year, the company handled over 780,000 assistance cases, including more than 14,000 medical evacuations. From July 2005 to June 2006, International SOS evacuated 638 patients from China to Taiwan.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Grace Ngoh
International SOS Singapore
DID: +65 6330 0134
Mobile: + 65 9878 9623