Aviva UK Health has launched an information pack to help expatriates manage their own health.
My Health Passport is available as a downloadable version to capture information such as employees’ personal details, blood group, illnesses and GP and insurance provider contact details, and also as a printed booklet containing more comprehensive health information, including details relating to screenings, vaccinations, operations and wellness checks.
Employees in the UK, as well as expats, can use My Health Passport to store their health records.
The My Health Passport study from Aviva UK Health found that many British employees lack essential knowledge about their own health.
As medical records are not automatically transferred overseas when employee move to work abroad, expats could find themselves with no record of their previous health.
The research found that 69% of respondents do not know their blood pressure, while 63% are unaware of their blood group.
Half of respondents (50%) are either not up to date with their tetanus/diphtheria vaccinations, or do not know whether they are up to date.
Over a third of respondents (35%) have struggled to remember their medical history when they have changed GP as a result of a house move.
Teresa Rogers, business lead for international private medical insurance (PMI) at Aviva said: “Moving overseas can be stressful, particularly if [staff] are being sent on an overseas assignment for work.
“With so much to remember, sometimes people neglect one of the most important things – their health.
“Being an international medical insurance provider, we know a large number of people require medical care while abroad.
“But, unfortunately, medical records are not easily accessible, particularly as they are not automatically transferred by GPs.
“Easy access to personal health information can be vital, particularly in a medical emergency situation or when visiting a GP or pharmacist abroad.
“We have developed My Health Passport as we want to encourage people to remember to take this information with them.”
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