Repatriation / Medical evacuation

Emergency return or transport of a traveller, usually provided through insurance or assistance. It covers situations where a traveller needs urgent medical treatment unavailable locally, or needs to be brought home due to a medical emergency or security incident. This is typically one of the most critical elements of a company's travel insurance and duty of care arrangements.

Medical evacuation involves transporting a traveller who is seriously ill or injured to the nearest facility capable of providing appropriate treatment, which may be in another city or country. Repatriation usually refers to bringing the traveller back to their home country, either for continued treatment or once they are fit to travel, and in the worst case, the repatriation of remains. These operations may involve air ambulances, medical escorts on scheduled flights and coordination with hospitals and authorities.

The cost of medical evacuation can be very high, which is why it is a core element of corporate travel insurance and assistance programmes. Companies should make sure that their policy covers evacuation from all destinations where employees travel, and that travellers know how to contact the assistance provider. Having accurate, up-to-date traveller data — including itineraries, passport details and emergency contacts — speeds up the response considerably. Many policies also cover the travel costs of a family member who needs to join the patient.

While medical evacuation is provided by insurers and specialist assistance companies, Tumodo helps companies respond quickly with accurate trip information. All bookings, traveller details and documents are stored in one system, so the company can immediately see where an employee is and how they are travelling. If return travel needs to be rebooked, Tumodo's 24/7 support team can help rearrange flights, transfers and accommodation.