Allianz has launched a medical escort service for its international private medical insurance (IPMI) plans.
It will offer an additional transportation option when medical evacuation of an insured member becomes necessary.
Members who are medically stable will be evacuated on commercial flights and accompanied at all times by one of the provider's own doctors.
Air-ambulances will still be available to transport members who are in a medically critical condition, while the new service will be utilised when appropriate and is expected to deliver significant cost savings to corporate clients.
Dr. Ulrike Sucher, medical director at Allianz Worldwide Care, explained the growing number of evacuations was being driven by a number of factors.
"Many of our corporate clients have employees working in remote regions within Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, where sparse medical facilities means a greater reliance on evacuation services following a medical emergency," she said.
"Plus, advancements in medical treatments and medical specialism in specific countries means that sometimes patients need to be brought to another country to receive the care that they need.
"Added to this is the increase in natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes and floods which can result in people needing medical treatment at a time when the closest medical facilities may have been damaged," she added.
The service is being introduced after a successful 12 month trial.
