ITIC APAC 2026 | Medical costs and quality in Southeast Asia

The ITIJ team have been reporting from ITIC APAC in Singapore this week (15–17 June 2026), sharing the discussions that took place at the conference. Read all reports.

David Burns, Chief Executive Officer, First Assistance

Burns examined one of the most significant challenges currently facing insurers and assistance providers: how to balance rising medical costs with increasing expectations around patient experience. He argued that these two priorities should not be viewed as competing objectives and suggested that the organisations delivering the strongest outcomes are those that recognise the relationship between financial control and high-quality patient care.

Burns explained that healthcare inflation, evolving patient expectations, and growing complexity across Asia Pacific (APAC) healthcare systems have fundamentally changed the way assistance companies approach medical case management. While cost containment remains a commercial necessity, he argued that focusing purely on reducing expenditure could ultimately undermine patient outcomes and create greater long-term costs. Instead, he explored how carefully designed provider strategies, strong governance, and clinically informed decision-making could improve both operational efficiency and patient satisfaction.

Throughout his presentation, Burns highlighted several practical measures that organisations were increasingly using to achieve this balance. Greater transparency around medical billing, stronger accreditation standards, and value-based provider contracting were all identified as key tools in reducing unnecessary expenditure while maintaining confidence in clinical quality. He also discussed the growing importance of well-established medical networks, explaining how trusted provider relationships enable assistance companies to make quicker decisions, negotiate costs more effectively, and ensure patients receive appropriate care from the outset.

A major focus of Burns’ presentation was the diversity of healthcare systems across APAC. He stressed that the region could not be approached as a single market, with significant variations in healthcare infrastructure, pricing models, regulation, and clinical capability requiring tailored strategies in each country.

Burns concluded that while digital tools and technology continue to support medical assistance operations, they cannot replace local expertise. He argued that organisations with strong regional knowledge, experienced medical teams, and established provider relationships were best placed to control escalating healthcare costs while maintaining positive patient experiences. Ultimately, he suggested that balancing financial sustainability with quality care hinges on understanding the unique characteristics of each healthcare market.

Charles-Michel Gauthier, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, APRIL International

Gauthier turned the discussion towards medical evacuation and repatriation, exploring one of the most complex areas of international medical assistance. He sought to dispel several common misconceptions surrounding these services, explaining that evacuation decisions are rarely straightforward and are driven by clinical assessment, policy conditions, and operational considerations rather than patient preference alone.

Gauthier explained that medical evacuation should only be considered when a genuine medical emergency exists, appropriate treatment cannot be provided locally, and medical professionals determine that transferring the patient represents the safest clinical option. He emphasised that evacuation was not designed as a convenience service or an automatic response to challenging circumstances such as geographical remoteness or political instability. Instead, every decision requires careful evaluation of medical necessity, available treatment options, and policy coverage.

Central to Gauthier’s presentation was the importance of coordinated care across international provider networks. He outlined how extensive relationships with hospitals, medical specialists, transport providers, and assistance partners enable organisations to respond rapidly while maintaining high clinical standards. He argued that these partnerships were essential in ensuring continuity of care throughout the patient journey, allowing assistance providers to identify the most appropriate treatment pathway rather than simply the nearest or most obvious solution.

To illustrate these principles, Gauthier presented complex case studies from Southeast Asia. One involved a traveller in Thailand who had suffered multiple traumatic injuries requiring careful coordination between treating physicians, assistance teams, and family members. Rather than defaulting to an air evacuation, the assistance team selected a clinically appropriate ground transfer to a higher-level facility, reducing risk while ensuring treatment remained within the patient’s insurance cover.

Gauthier argued that the example demonstrated the value of combining medical expertise with operational experience. Successful assistance, he suggested, depends not simply on moving patients between countries, but on balancing clinical quality, policy requirements, patient expectations, and financial considerations. He concluded that as healthcare systems continue to evolve across APAC, organisations with strong medical governance, extensive provider networks, and experienced operational teams will be best equipped to deliver safe, efficient, and patient-focused assistance.