International SOS is expert in the field of telemedicine.  WHAT IS PATIENT SUPPORT? Patient Support is a new concept in care for patients undergoing prescribed drugs.  This service covers all types of treatments.  A telephone service, it provides an outbound support network of healthcare professionals who can assist patients through a prescribed course of drugs to give them the best chance of completing treatment and successfully resolving the condition. The programme involves regular contacts by phone and occasionally mail at crucial points in the
treatment regime.  The work undertaken with Roche and the weight-reduction drug Xenical exemplifies the success of the service.  The key benefits are: - A reduction in avoidable ill-health and premature death - Doctors are spared the cost and time of readmissions - Pharmaceutical companies gain a
thorough assessment of their products. International SOS earlier this year launched Patient Support in the UK to improve patient compliance with drug treatments and Roche is Patient Support's first customer in the UK. Roche offers the service under the brand MAP (Medical Assistance Programme) to patients taking a course of Xenical, the weight-reduction drug. Patient Support tackles the problem of patient non-compliance, a serious and costly health issue - studies show that UK non-compliance can
range from 20% - 80% depending on type of treatment.