NTUC Healthcare celebrates 15th Anniversary
13 September 2007
Media Statement
The NTUC Healthcare Co-operative celebrated its 15th Anniversary at Orchard Hotel this evening. In line with its social mission, NTUC Healthcare pledged a sum of $150,000 to fund initiatives to help low wage workers in Singapore. The donation will be administered by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Unit for Contract and Casual Workers (UCCW) as they form the bulk of the low wage workers.
Timely help to defray healthcare cost for low wage workers
2. NTUC Healthcare’s contribution to help low wage workers is timely as many of the contract and casual workers do not receive sufficient medical coverage from their employers in Singapore. Statistics from 2001 to 2004 showed that there has been a 19% increase in contract and casual workers; and in 2006, 12% (172,000) is employed on contractual terms. The $150,000 donation will help this group of low wage workers to defray in part their primary healthcare expenditure. This could take the form of products and/or services at all NTUC Healthcare pharmacies, medical, dental and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics. All workers who are registered with the UCCW in 2007 and earn a monthly income of $1000 and below will be entitled to apply for a voucher of up to $30 per person. This scheme will benefit about 5,000 low wage workers.
3. Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General of the NTUC said, “I am glad that for the past 15 years, NTUC Healthcare has been active in extending a caring hand to many rank and file workers, especially the low wage workers, contract workers, casual workers and self-employed workers. This is most helpful because many of them do not have adequate healthcare coverage and savings. Working with the NTUC's Unit for Contract and Casual Workers (UCCW), NTUC Healthcare is also providing discounted medical treatments to some 1,500 casual and contract workers. Today, with the donation of $150,000 and its partnership with UCCW, NTUC Healthcare has clearly demonstrated its commitment to enhance its social impact and contribute towards a caring and sharing labour movement. ”
Unity Popular Choice Awards
4. Besides celebrating the NTUC Healthcare 15th Anniversary, 2007 also marks the second year where NTUC Healthcare is giving out the Unity Popular Choice Awards. The Unity Popular Choice Awards aims to recognize NTUC Healthcare Pharmacy, Unity Pharmacy’s best-selling brands and products. The Unity Popular Choice Awards are awarded to products and brands that are most popular and most trusted among consumers. Consumers have greater confidence when buying Unity Popular Choice Awards’ products and brands as these are quality products and brands. Hence, potential consumers are also motivated to try these products and brands.
5. This year, a total of 36 awards across three broad categories were given out. They were:
(i) Brand Category – This is awarded to brands with the best overall sales under their respective category. The winning brands and products were:
(ii) New Brand Category – This is awarded to a product range that is listed in Unity shops for less than a year but has shown incremental increase in average sales. The winning product under this category was AFC Vitamins & Supplements and
(iii) Product Category – This is awarded to products in a category with highest sales in their respective categories.
Megastores and more outlets
6. Besides providing primary healthcare services for working people and moderating the cost of healthcare in Singapore through promoting and providing quality healthcare services at affordable rates, NTUC Healthcare is also looking into setting up more pharmacies, dental, medical and TCM clinics to better serve the needs of working people. In fact, NTUC Healthcare had set up two mega stores to better serve the lifestyle and needs of our working people. Known as The Living Pharmacy, the two mega-stores were set up at Great World City in September 2006 and Ang Mo Kio Hub in January 2007 respectively. A “Living Cafe" was also incorporated within The Living Pharmacy serving healthy, natural and organic food to health conscious customers. The mega-store concept also includes health kiosk and soundproof room for hearing tests and a consultation area for customers. Healthcare will be on the look out for suitable locations to set up more of such mega-store in various parts of Singapore over the next two years.
An inclusive and caring NTUC Healthcare Co-operative
7. NTUC Healthcare will continue to strive and grow stronger as it further its social mission. As part of the labour movement family, it will also work towards supporting the labour movement’s vision to be an inclusive and caring labour movement that reaches out to working people of all collars, all ages and all nationalities.
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About NTUC Healthcare
NTUC Healthcare Co-operative Limited was set up in 1992 to help moderate the cost of healthcare in Singapore through promoting and providing quality healthcare services at affordable rates. Currently, the Co-operative operates 40 Unity Healthcare Pharmacies, 13 dental clinics, 7 medical clinics and 2 Traditional Chinese Medicine clinics.
About National Trades Union Congress
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions in the industrial, service and public sectors representing 500,000 workers in Singapore. NTUC comprises 63 affiliated unions, 6 affiliated taxi associations, 9 co-operatives and 6 related organisations. NTUC’s objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and workers remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of workers; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement. NTUC's vision is to be an inclusive labour movement for all collars, all ages and all nationalities.
For more details on NTUC, please visit our website at www.ntuc.org.sg
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