About SOS-international
About International SOS
Protecting People, Saving Lives, Empowering Organizations
For over 40 years, International SOS has stood as the world’s leading health and security risk services company, dedicated to one unwavering mission: keeping people safe, wherever they work and travel.
Our Story
Pascal Rey-Herme, a doctor, and Arnaud Vaissié, a businessman, founded AEA International a company registered in Indonesia (also known as PT Asih Eka Abadi) in 1985 to provide medical assistance services to expatriate communities and international organisations in Southeast Asia. Over the following decade, the company grew from its base in Singapore and Indonesia into a pan-Asian corporation, with operations in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and mainland China.
In 1998, AEA International acquired International SOS Assistance, a group of corporations founded in 1974 by Claude Giroux a Canadian entrepreneur, creating the largest medical assistance company in the world. Initially, it was known as AEA International SOS, and was renamed International SOS in 1999. The acquisition extended the company beyond Asia.
What began as a vision to provide unparalleled medical assistance to expatriates in Southeast Asia has evolved into a global powerhouse of expertise, innovation, and unwavering commitment to duty of care.
Our Mission & Vision
Mission: To pioneer the international medical & travel security risk services sector.
Vision: To be the world’s leading health and security risk services company.
We don’t just respond to crises—we prevent them. Through cutting-edge technology, medical expertise, and a relentless focus on prevention, we deliver real-time, actionable insights and unparalleled on-the-ground support.
Our Global Reach
Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group has been saving lives for 40 years. Headquartered in London & Singapore, we are trusted by over 9,000 organizations. This includes the majority of the Fortune Global 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions, and NGOs. Nearly 13,000 global experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries, over 110 languages, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Our presence spans:
* 1,200+ locations across 90 countries
* 13,000+ experts including medical professionals, security specialists, and logistics coordinators
* 24/7/365 availability ensuring help is always at hand
* 110+ languages breaking down barriers in moments of crisis
Who We Serve
They work with educational organisations, corporate clients (including the majority of the Fortune Global 500), corporate clients, governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
From multinational corporations navigating complex global operations to NGOs working in challenging environments, from educational institutions protecting students abroad to governments safeguarding their personnel—we partner with organizations that understand the critical importance of duty of care.
Our Expertise
Medical Services
We provide comprehensive medical assistance, from telehealth consultations to emergency evacuations. The firm operates air ambulances services out of South Africa, Singapore, China, Papua New Guinea, and the Middle East. It airlifted 18,000 emergency cases in 2008. Our medical professionals bring decades of experience in remote and challenging environments.
Security Services
Through strategic partnerships and proprietary intelligence, we assess threats, design preventive programs, and provide real-time security guidance. In 2008 the firm launched a strategic alliance with Control Risks to offer combined medical and security services, launching TravelTracker, and acquired MedAire, a provider of remote medical services for aviation and maritime founded by Joan Sullivan Garrett. The company would expand on its strategic alliance with Control Risks two years later, launching TravelTracker Mobile, an accompanying software to TravelTracker.
Technology & Innovation
International SOS also develops Quantum, a travel risk management platform that provides real-time risk information, geo-located crisis alerts, and access to medical and security expertise. The system offers tools for emergency notifications, traveler monitoring, and incident responses.
Our technology doesn’t just track—it protects. From predictive analytics to critical event management, we leverage innovation to keep you ahead of emerging threats.
Our Approach
At International SOS we work with you to protect your global workforce from security and health threats. We work with you to assess the risks associated with every working environment. We design robust and customized preventive programs to protect your people.
We believe in a proactive, not reactive, approach to risk management. Every solution is tailored to your unique challenges, every program designed with your people at the center.
Commitment to Excellence
In 2016, International SOS became the first company in the world to be ISO/TS 13131 certified, dealing in the processes and practices of telehealth care.
International SOS has been certified as a Top Employer for the eighth consecutive year by the Top Employers Institute.
Our certifications aren’t just credentials—they’re promises. Promises of quality, expertise, and a commitment to setting the industry standard.
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
We believe that our expertise, professionalism and commitment to excellence contributes both to the sustainable development of our own organization and assists our clients in upholding their promises to their people. Our sustainability commitments set out our ambition and demonstrate how we continue to hold ourselves accountable for our impact and performance.
The International SOS Foundation
The International SOS Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, safety and security of workers around the world. Started with a grant from International SOS in 2011, it is an independent, not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to commission and share research and best practice around Duty of Care.
Through the Foundation, we invest in research, share best practices, and advance the global conversation around duty of care—because protecting people is everyone’s responsibility.
Why Partner With International SOS?
Proven Track Record
Four decades of experience saving lives, managing crises, and protecting workforces in every corner of the globe.
Unmatched Expertise
Thousands of medical professionals, security specialists, and crisis management experts ready to support you.
Global Network, Local Knowledge
Presence in 90 countries means we understand local nuances while delivering global standards of care.
Technology-Driven Solutions
Cutting-edge platforms that provide real-time intelligence, seamless coordination, and rapid response capabilities.
Comprehensive Services
From pre-travel risk assessments to emergency evacuations, from mental health support to pandemic response—we’re with you at every stage.
Our Commitment to You
Our innovative technology and medical expertise with a focus on prevention, offers real-time, actionable insights and unparalleled on-the-ground delivery. We help clients meet compliance reporting needs for good governance. By partnering with us organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity and sustainability.
When you partner with International SOS, you’re not just purchasing a service—you’re gaining a trusted ally committed to your people’s safety, your organization’s resilience, and your peace of mind.
Ready to Protect Your People?
Four decades ago, we embarked on a mission with a clear vision: to provide unparalleled medical assistance to expatriates and international organizations in Asia. Today, we are the world’s leading security, health, and wellbeing risk management company.
The world is complex. Risks are evolving. But one thing remains constant: our commitment to keeping your people safe, wherever they are, whatever challenges they face.
International SOS. Protecting people. Saving lives. Empowering organizations.
