International private medical insurance provider ALC Health (à la carte healthcare) today reported a 38% growth for 2013 over the previous 12 month period.

Andrew Apps, Director at ALC Health comments:

Over the past four years we have seen a continued steady growth across our business and with 2013 once again proving to be another record year for the company.

Our customer focused boutique approach and competitive pricing structure has enabled our members to choose the cover they want at an affordable price whilst enjoying the very highest level of personal service and support that has become the hallmark of ALC Health’s success. The past year also saw the successful launch of two new core plans – Prima Platinum and Prima Concept – adding further to our existing suite of global medical insurance plans created for the expatriate and global citizen.

2013 was another exciting one for ALC Health and we are looking forward to pushing forward the boundaries even further in 2014.

For further press information contact Sheena Young at sheena.young@alchealth.com

T:  +44 (0) 1903 817970

It’s only appropriate that we say goodbye to the old and welcome the new in a way that’s universally understood: With tons of parties.

Whether everyone sings Auld Lang Syne, throws flowers into the sea, or watches a ball drop, every culture and city has its own traditions for kicking off the New Year on the right foot writes the healthytravelblog.com

But wherever you choose to celebrate, remember to take extra precaution. With the crowds, festive drinks, and overall excitement of the day, it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities. Be sure to travel with a friend or in a group and stay alert as much as possible. Have a glass or two of champagne to celebrate if you’re of legal drinking age, but remember it’s always safest to stay in control. And of course, book a hotel nearby and don’t hesitate to get a taxi if necessary.

If you’re still not sure what you’ll be dong this New Year’s Eve (or want ideas for next year), here are some of the best celebrations around the world:

Sydney It’s no surprise that one of the first cities in the world to celebrate the New Year would also host a massive celebration filled with an incredible lightshow, fireworks, and pyrotechnic displays over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Attendees can also enjoy entertainment acts such as aerial acrobats and a traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking ceremony, which is done to cleanse bad spirits. At the end of the night, the festivities conclude with the Harbour of Light Parade, which features a variety of illuminated boats throughout the harbour.

Hong Kong Hong Kong is the home of an incredible fireworks display and pyrotechnic lightshow. At Hong Kong’s Time Square (yes, there are two of them!),  you’ll also enjoy a taste of New York City’s famous celebration; the city also hosts a ball drop ceremony similar to the one in New York. Or, visit the Victoria Harbour and watch the countdown displayed in the sky, followed by a fireworks finale.

Cape Town While there are plenty of New Year’s Eve festivals and events to take part in, the real party in South Africa begins on New Year’s Day with Kaapse Klopse, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival. Watch parades, performances of traditional dancers, musicians, and locals dressed up as minstrels as you celebrate a tradition that dates back to the 19^th century.

Vienna Visit the charming city’s famous Christmas markets and join thousands in watching the fireworks at the Wiener Prater fun fair. Vienna is also a great place to go if you’re looking for a classy celebration; you can attend glamorous balls, galas, and concerts such as the “Grand Ball” at Hofburg Palace.

London Over 250,000 people head to the area surrounding River Thames to view the night’s events, which includes a 10-minute lightshow, fireworks, and a countdown that concludes with Big Ben striking midnight. On New Year’s Day, watch the parade in central London, which includes floats, marching bands, and even an appearance by the Queen’s horses.

Edinburgh In Scotland, an evening and a day aren’t enough to ring in the New Year. Instead, Edinburgh hosts Hogmany, which is a four-day long festival of events. Thousands of people attend the festival, which includes a traditional Celtic party, live music, and other performances on stages throughout the city. The event culminates with a pyrotechnic show at midnight on New Year’s as everyone sings Auld Lang Syne, a classic Scottish song.

New York City The Big Apple is an iconic New Year’s Eve destination, bringing in millions of people around the world to watch the ball drop—a tradition that’s been around since the early 1900s. But there’s more than just that—visitors can also enjoy celebrity performances, a lightshow, fireworks, and other festivities. But if you’re looking to enjoy the celebration without the crowds, consider viewing from a nearby hotel or restaurant.

Rio de Janeiro In the capital of Brazil, locals and visitors from all over the world head to the famous Copacabana beach to watch performances and dance the Samba. Think Carnival meets New Year’s Eve beach party—which is great for those looking to stay warm this holiday. If you go, be sure to wear white, which is said to bring good luck for the New Year. Countdown to midnight, throw flowers into the ocean, and end the night with an incredible fireworks show

ALC Health has added yet more online tools and technology to its dedicated member only service ALC World (www.alchealth.com/alcworld). Provided as part of each ALC Health policyholder’s membership package, ALC World offers a wealth of information covering medical facilities and services worldwide including city profiles, a drug and medical phrase translation service and local security updates.

Adding a further 500 medical providers to its contracted community, an increase of 9% and 200 new facilities, an increase of 14%, ALC World has also expanded the number of countries included in its Drug Equivalency Guide including the Philippines, Panama, Cyprus, Turkey, Jordan, Bahamas and Jamaica bringing the total number of countries to 42.

Additional languages are now included as part of the Medical Translation Tool which now includes audio and bilateral translations for twelve languages representing the primary languages for 193 countries: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Andrew Apps, Director at ALC Health adds “For many expatriates, finding the right doctor or medical facility in an unfamiliar country can be difficult at best of times.

With ALC World our members have access to a wealth of comprehensive data covering doctors, specialists, clinics and hospitals which enables the user to make an informed decision when making that all important choice of who to use, for what and where. With a further expansion of the online drug translation tool, making sure the correct drug is prescribed when a repeat prescription is needed becomes simple and straightforward”.

The moment a woman discovers she’s pregnant, her life immediately changes forever. Not only do you have to prepare for your new baby’s arrival, but you must also take the necessary steps and precautions to ensure he develops safely and properly. And if you’re the type who loves to travel and doesn’t plan on stopping until absolutely necessary (or as recommended by your doctor) there are some specific travel tips you should consider before embarking on a trip writes the healthytravelblog.com

Know the best times to travel (and the worst). While pregnancy can cause nausea and fatigue, these symptoms typically don’t last throughout the entire pregnancy. The second trimester is considered the best time to travel since you’re less likely to experience morning sickness and fatigue. You should however try to avoid traveling after 36 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, unless your doctor gives you permission. If you do plan on flying late in your pregnancy, check to see if your airline requires a note from your doctor if you’re scheduled to deliver within 30 days of takeoff.

Bring a copy of all necessary medical information. If you need treatment from a local doctor during your trip, it’s important to have a copy of your prenatal records to help him better understand your pregnancy and specific needs.

If flying, opt for a pat down instead of getting scanned. When going through security at the airport, try to avoid AIT scanners (the ones that spin around you) and ask to receive a pat down instead. Since the effects of the scanners on the fetus are unknown, doctors advise women to avoid them altogether.

Choose an aisle seat. This will give you more room to stretch and allow you easier access to the bathroom. Be sure to take frequent walks to the bathroom to prevent blood clots. You might also want to wear compression socks or tights to keep your blood circulating.

Bring healthy snacks and drink plenty of water. While women should drink tons of water when pregnant, this is especially true when traveling. Aim for eight to twelve glasses of water a day to ensure the fetus is getting enough.

Pack loose and comfortable clothing. Avoid anything that’s too tight to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible during your travels.

Watch what you eat. Traveling can make it difficult to maintain a healthy and regular diet. Be sure to cut back on foods and drinks that are likely to cause gas and heartburn, and opt for foods that are high in fiber. Instead of eating three big meals a day, aim for several small meals and take your time when eating.

Slow it down. Since it’s easy to get tired when pregnant, it’s best to keep your schedule light and simple. Scheduling time to nap each day may be a good way to re-boost your energy stores and avoid exhaustion.

Areas of dissatisfaction among the mobile workforce could jeopardise the success of their overseas assignment and lessen the return on investment for employers, says a new report out this week.

A survey has highlighted the fact many expat workers are unaware of the benefits and assistance available to help them with their overseas assignment. It is estimated up to a third of international assignments fail due to family stress, burn-out, increased workloads, and cultural differences. These problems occur despite significant investment from multinational companies, estimated at almost three to five times that of the employee’s salary.

According to the survey, the majority of companies are providing the resources rated as most important by employees including general relocation services (80%), settling in services (63%), and medical preparedness (65%).

Over three-quarters (78%) of expats and their families have accessed medical care abroad. Expats under 34 years old were considerably less well informed about the details of their health plans than other age groups. For example, uncertainty over how to handle claims was four times higher than the average of other age segments, and a lack of knowledge over where to access healthcare was triple that of other groups.

The results also indicated having a family strongly influences health care choices. Those on assignment with spouses or partners and children were most likely to access care, with percentages as high as 91% in these segments compared to single expats (64%) and expats without children (67%). While those who had a partner or children back in their home country tend to seek routine treatment at home, rather than where they are posted.

Extract reproduced with kind permission of expathealth.org

World Aids Day was on Sunday (1 December), so what better time to reflect on how far the fight against HIV/AIDS has come in recent decades. A disease that once signified a death-sentence is slowly but surely in decline and an end to the most destructive pandemic in human history is no longer unimaginable writes expathealth.org

On the whole, HIV sufferers are living longer, more fulfilled lives. However, those most at risk of contracting the virus; sex workers, users of intravenous drugs and homosexual men, still face daily stigma from society at large.

Maybe surprisingly, it has been reported that the number of new cases in some European countries has actually been increasing. In the current period of austerity challenging much of the continent, treatment and services have fallen victim to government cuts.

It has been suggested that as the incidence of the disease declines, it is no longer taken as seriously as it once was. But where does that leave the 35 million people around the world still living with HIV/AIDS?

There remains widespread misunderstanding, and cultural differences mean that sufferers are still often demonised. This is evident from the fact that more than 70 countries across the world continue to uphold some form of law prohibiting homosexuality, restricting access to treatment and support for those most in need.

It is also necessary that the attitude towards female sufferers changes, as it is now possible to prevent transmission of the infection to any unborn children. In much of Africa women are still seen as the carriers and transmitters of the virus.

UNAIDS will be inaugurating Zero Discrimination Day on the 1st March 2014 in an attempt to end the persecution faced by many HIV/AIDS sufferers.

Raising awareness is key to winning the battle against AIDS. Some facts that you may not know:

• With proper treatment it is possible for HIV sufferers to no longer be infectious.
• Life expectancy of an HIV sufferer after 5 years of treatment is the same as the rest of the population, if they are diagnosed early.
• It only takes 15-20 minutes to get the results from an HIV test.

The emphasis is now firmly on early diagnosis, as early treatment reduces the likeliness of a carrier being contagious. Ignorance of HIV/AIDS continues to be as much of an issue in the west as it is in Sub-Saharan Africa. For example, in Britain 1 in 4 people with HIV are undiagnosed and in Germany the figure worryingly jumps to 1 in 3.

For more information about AIDS awareness, visit the official World AIDS Day website.

A hallmark of classic British food, bangers and mash have taken a turn for the upscale in recent years. But taking this famous meal out of the pub and into the fancy restaurant doesn’t make it any healthier.

Usually made with copious amounts of butter, fatty sausage, and rich gravy, traditionally prepared bangers and mash will leave you with a bellyache and in need of a nap.

This lighter, fresher version scrimps on neither flavour nor satisfaction, and makes for a comforting and nourishing meal. Leaving the skin on the potatoes adds a healthy does of fiber, and swapping Greek yogurt for butter gives the potatoes and mushy peas a pleasing tangy flavor.

When choosing a sausage, look for a leaner variety made with chicken or turkey rather than pork to keep the over all fat and calorie count low.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs yellow creamer potatoes
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons low fat Greek yogurt
• 2 cups pearl onions, peeled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, divided
• 4 lean chicken sausages
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 4 sage leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover with cold water. Bring up to a boil, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes. Mince two of the garlic cloves, and add during the last few minutes of cooking. Drain and allow to cool slightly. Mash with ½ cup Greek yogurt, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm and set aside.
3. On a sheet pan, toss the pearl onions with a splash of olive oil, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Roast for 10-15 minutes, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and tender.
4. While the onions are roasting, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a pan over medium heat, and mince 2 of the garlic cloves, adding them to the pan.
5. Add the sage leaves to the hot oil, and fry on each side, perfuming the oil.  Remove the sage leaves, and add the sausages to the pan, and cook, turning often, until browned all over.
6. Add the sausages to the pan in the oven with the onions, and toss everything together. Allow it to roast for 6-8 minutes.
7. To make the mushy peas, heat a splash of olive oil over medium heat, and add the frozen peas. Cook for 6-8 minutes until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper, and add 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt once the peas have finished cooking. Mash with a potato masher until you have a slightly creamy texture.
8. Serve the potatoes on a plate with the sausage sliced in half on top, with the peas and onions on the side. Garnish with a sage leaf if desired.

Reproduced with kind permission of the healthytravelblog.com

First the U.S. decides to ease its restrictions on the use of electronics during flights. Now the European Union announces it plans to lift the ban on liquids over 3.4 ounces on commercial flights reports the healthytravelblog.com

Yes, it’s been a great couple of weeks for frequent flyers.

While the travel-sized product industry may take a bit of a hit, those traveling in Europe will be relieved to know they can start bringing certain liquids, aerosols, and gels onto planes starting January 2014.

But this doesn’t mean the EU has completely abandoned its security concerns. A new screening device, known as the LS10 that tests liquids for potential explosives will be installed in all European airports. The device, which was developed by the Ohio-based research and development organization Battelle, uses radio frequency waves and ultrasonic pulses to assess all liquids brought by passengers. Handy right? The machine is also pretty fast too—it should only take up to five seconds to scan a container.

While this device will be mandatory in all European airports next year, London’s Heathrow will be the first to begin using it come January.

So does this mean Americans should expect the U.S. to follow suit and loosen up its on-flight liquid restrictions too?

According to the TSA, they shouldn’t get their hopes up.