International SOS is revving up plans to promote Thailand as a subregional centre for medical assistance and evacuations in a move to capitalise on the country's promising growth under Asean economic integration.
Huinck: Bangkok more in demand
"Thailand for us is becoming more and more a subregion for medical excellence," said Philippe Huinck, managing director for South and Southeast Asia at the medical assistance and security services firm.
"Over the past five years, most evacuations in the subregion went to Singapore, while those in North Asia went to Hong Kong. Now it has changed a lot, as most evacuations in the subregion come to Bangkok because the medical standards here are very high. You can find international physicians here when evacuations take place."
Mr Huinck cited Thailand's growing medical services business, which is expected to keep the pace once the Asean Economic Community (AEC) takes shape in 2015.
International SOS first opened its doors in Bangkok in 1986. The office was upgraded five years later to a full-scale alarm centre in response to demand for local and international assistance.
The expansion of the business prompted the company to move to a new location on the 11th floor of GPF Witthayu Towers on Wireless Road, purposely built for emergency services, in 1999.
In the latest move to accommodate business growth, the company plans over the next six months to move to the 14th floor of the same building. The new space covers 1,400 square metres, against 700 square metres on the 11th floor.
Clients of SOS in Thailand include financial institutions and firms involved in insurance, cars, telecom, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, as well as multinational corporations.
The company is recognised as the leading medical-assistance provider for the oil and gas industry in Thailand.
The services SOS provides to the sector include first-aid training, paramedic and doctor staffing, site surveys, medical consultations and assessments, and medical check-ups and testing.
Due to the high standards of medical care available in Bangkok, the company's assistance centre here is a hub of medical excellence for the Indochina region, Bangladesh and southeastern China.
SOS has 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.
Headquartered in Singapore and London, International SOS operates facilities in more than 70 countries, including 27 assistance (alarm) centres, 32 clinics and 11 dedicated air ambulances.
In its latest fiscal year ended June 30, SOS reported revenue of US$1.2 billion, a rise of 20% year-on-year, with Asia-Pacific (including North Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South and Southeast Asia) making up 40%.
Revenue in South and Southeast Asia outstripped the company's overall growth, expanding by 22% in the two regions and accounting for 35% of Asia-Pacific business.
According to Mr Huinck, the company expects stable organic growth of 15-20% in the next three years, partly driven by duty-of-care obligations.