Partnership will offer even greater expertise to clients

Aberdeen-based industrial medical and occupational health specialist Abermed has strengthened its international capabilities through a merger with People in Health, giving them access to a pool of 500 independent consultants across the world.

Having joined forces with People in Health in Suffolk, Abermed is now able to utilise the company’s extensive database of consultants, who work in specialist areas such as pharmacy development, HR, manufacturing and diagnostics. As the leading provider of healthcare services to the global oil and gas industry and the largest provider of Oil and Gas UK medicals, Abermed has already acquired a majority share in a medical care company in Kazakhstan last year, providing a platform for expansion into the Caspian Sea.

The company will capitalise on this expertise to offer an even wider service to clients, while training is also a key priority.

People in Health is supported by about 20 key consultants in the UK, the USA and Europe.

A further group of about 100 specialists is regularly called on for expert advice on specialist techniques or practical advice on different parts of the world, but the database is made up of nearly 500 people who are available to give the best possible advice.

With offices in France and Portugal as well as England, People in Health also has associates in many other countries, including India and Australia.

Abermed’s Managing Director James Miller said the partnership opened up numerous opportunities for development and expansion into new areas beyond the North Sea.

“This is an exciting move for us and another major step towards internationalisation,” he said. “Around 70% of our business comes from the North Sea and we know and understand the oil and gas industry very well.

“However, we also work across the world – often in remote locations where telemedicine comes into its own – so having access to this database of consultants with expert knowledge and first-hand experience on the ground will be invaluable.

“We have already moved into Kazakhstan, giving us a platform for growth into the Caspian region, Asia and the Middle East, but this would have proved to be very difficult without good local contacts.

“We see a significant gap in the market for quality health consultancy, particularly in the areas of hospital management and development of specialist medical services in the developing world, as well as life sciences, pharmaceutics and bio-technology. We will be able to use the database of specialists, particularly in new territories.

“This unique offering enhances our ability to offer advisory services to our clients, and to offer an even better service in new areas, both geographically and scientifically.

” People in Health recently appointed David Axon as Managing Director. David has had considerable experience in the government sector and was a Commander in the Royal Navy. He also has an MBA from Henley Business School.

It is continuing to trade as People in Health, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Abermed.

David Axon added: “People in Health will now be developed as a truly global health consultancy and a provider of a wide range of life science skills through our talent bank of independent consultants.

“The provision of interim scientists and managers and specialist strategic, scientific, HR and commercial consultancy services will be expanded internationally and training will also be an important new dimension of activity for People in Health, especially in emerging markets.

” Recent projects carried out by People in Health included the reorganisation and restructuring of the health services in Gibraltar, finance and general consulting on the establishment of private diagnostic centres in Romania, and advice to care home providers in Spain, Canada and Malta.