Assistance & Repatriation Review | April 2024

A lifesaving odyssey: the tale of Baby Mary

AMREF Flying Doctors (AFD) recounts how its team took a seven-month-old to India for a vital heart operation.

The VIP solution for second surgical opinions

Gitte Bach, CEO of New Frontier Group (NFG), explains how the company provides support to international VIPs seeking a second opinion in the US.

Critical care at sea

Embarking on a journey across the Northeast Passage, a routine cruise turned into a test of resilience when a crewmember suffered a stroke on the route from Nome, Alaska, to…

Read the April 2024 Review

Interview: Mohamed Essam, Egypt Assistance

Oliver Cuenca talks with Mohamed Essam, Managing Director of Egypt Assistance, about his work and how his company has evolved

Interview: Sasha Gainullin, Robin Assist

Oliver Cuenca interviewed Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface’s claims handling and assistance subsidiary Robin Assist, about his company’s first year and its future plans

Working effectively with local physicians and treating hospitals

Jane Collingwood explores how medical assistance firms collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure the best possible experience for the patient

Helping hands when customers need it most

Operations Director Fiona Greenwood shares how Rowland Brothers International offers compassion, support and guidance to customers and staff when dealing with the loss of a loved one

Geopolitics, climate events and increasing uncertainty

Stéphan Malvoisin, Senior Vice President, Partnerships, US, at Crisis24, walks ITIJ through how to manage the top travel risks of this year

Repatriating ashes from Zagreb to Beijing

Tomislav Princivali, Organisation Manager of Funeral Hrvojka – Princivali Repatriation Assistance, explains how his firm helped a Chinese family arrange for the cremation and return of their loved one’s remains.

Repatriating without the right passport

Fiona Greenwood, Operations Director at Rowland Brothers International, described the complexities of repatriating mortal remains to a country where the deceased is not a national.

Repatriation by airliner from Zanzibar to Hamburg

Dr Cenk Aydinçer of Marm Assistance describes a mission to transfer a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome home from Tanzania after they fell ill there.

Interview: Dr Juliane Kause header image

Interview: Dr Juliane Kause of Everbridge

Dr Juliane Kause, Chief Medical Officer at Everbridge talks about duty of care, business travel assistance and patchy public health information

Interview: Dr Simon Worrell of Crisis24

Dr Simon Worrell, Crisis24's Global Medical Director talks about new technology, managing crises and assisting corporate clients

Establishing a provider network to support assistance services in a new region

Natalya Butakova, CEO at AP Companies, on what it takes to establish a new provider network in an unfamiliar country

Building a business in the West Balkans

Dr Ervin Kostakis, Chief Medical Officer for Albanian Intercare Services Group (Albintercare), explains how his firm provides assistance in the West Balkans

Assistance on the Antarctic ice

Antarctica’s hostile environment makes medical assistance extremely challenging. Preparation and training are key, discovers Lauren Haigh

Factors driving cost increases in medical assistance

The pandemic ramped up the cost of assistance – but there are a range of other factors that have caused prices to continue to rise. Cathy Hudson looks into what…

Using ground-based medical transportation

Oliver Cuenca speaks to industry experts about the viability and key considerations of transporting patients by ground ambulance

Read the October 2023 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | April 2023

ITIJ Assistance and Repatriation Review Cover April 2023

Transporting the dead

Repatriating mortal remains in times of pandemic and war is difficult. Alysia Cameron-Davies investigates

Rebuilding networks after a crisis

Crises can disrupt provider networks, necessitating reconstruction. Lauren Haigh gains insights into the rebuilding process

Concierge services for travel and medical assistance: the VIP experience

Concierge services are becoming popular with consumers. Lauren Haigh explores this trend

Read the April 2023 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | October 2022

Travel risk management evolution of technology and skillsets

With a new awareness of travel risks facing globally mobile workers, travel risk management companies are offering new tools to mitigate the perils faced around the world. Mandy Langfield reports

Medical evacuation plans for cruise passengers

Transporting patients from cruise ships to appropriate hospitals often involves a lot of planning and efficient communication between assistance companies and cruise lines. Clara Bullock spoke to both parties to…

Assistance in Ukraine – case studies from security providers

Security and medical assistance firms stepped up to evacuate clients from Ukraine as the crisis escalated and Russia's bombing campaign began

Read the October 2022 Review

Assistance & Repatriation Review | April 2022

Assistance & Repatriation April 2022 Cover

Assistance for high-net-worth clients

The lifestyle of the rich and famous – or high-net-worth (HNW) individuals – often includes a lot of travel. In addition to the risks that all travellers face, however, from…

Kidnap and Ransom risk - Security on the front line

Kidnap and ransom risk (K&R) has changed a lot, with express kidnapping and ransomware demands now more typical industry risks. Clara Bullock spoke to assistance providers and insurers to find…

Adapting customer service to the post-Covid world

The pandemic has changed the way assistance providers work in a myriad of ways – from travel restrictions to Covid-safe transports. But has it affected the way they deal with…

Read the April 2022 Review