The demand for medical assistance abroad rose by 17% in July 2024, compared to the same month last year, according to a preliminary summer report published on Friday by Europ Assistance. The increase is largely attributed to heatwaves striking Southern Europe in recent weeks.
From 28 June to 25 July, Europ Assistance answered close to 28,000 telephone calls for help. Several thousand affiliates also used the company's app, bypassing the call centre service.
Among these assistance requests, 989 cases were opened for medical assistance abroad. This marks a 17% surge compared to July 2023, but there was an 8% decrease compared to 2022 when an unusually high number of holidaymakers travelled abroad.
The majority of the medical cases were opened in France (16%) and Spain (14%), followed by Greece (6%) and Italy (5%). The most common ailments include fractures and injuries (43%), digestive issues (12%) and infections (11%).
Potential reasons for this uptick in medical assistance requests include the heatwave affecting parts of Southern Europe in recent weeks. Among those under 20, an increase in gastrointestinal issues was reported. For those over 50, the cases that were reported linked to cardiac and respiratory issues, as well as neurological problems.
Assistance breakdowns in Belgium and abroad, which account for the majority of assistance requests, recorded a 3% decrease compared to last year. Cases were opened in France (45%), Spain (11%), Germany (9%) and the Netherlands (8%).
