Around 85 per cent of medical concerns faced by travellers are “preventable”, according to a study from International SOS.
The research claims issues including insect-borne diseases such as malaria as well as flu and stomach problems can be stopped with more “comprehensive planning” in the company’s travel programme.
The Travel Risk Outlook 2016 study among executives working in HR, HSE, travel, risk and security found that 83 per cent reported their travellers suffered from an illness or medical concerns while abroad in 2015.
“These issues are to a large extent preventable,” said Laurent Taymans, regional medical director, International SOS. “Most of the health risks travellers face can be mitigated by systematic and comprehensive planning.
“Access to quality health information, advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis, good internal communication, and a solid preventive health check programme are all best practices for organisations with global travellers.”
The study also found that 88 per cent of respondents are concerned travel risks may have an impact on their business in 2016. It said while many risks may be mitigated, one in three organisations reported they do not pro-actively educate their travellers before they go abroad.
Tim Willis director at International SOS said: “This percentage is relatively high. However, as a threat it is far less common than the top three safety and security risks travellers cited of concern in 2015, which were petty crime (34 per cent), road accidents (33 per cent) and unsafe public transport (18 per cent).”
The International SOS survey was conducted among 261 executives working in Europe.