DBS Bank announces series of Covid relief measures to bolster access to healthcare

Mumbai: As part of its ongoing response to the pandemic, DBS Bank India has joined hands with the Indian and Singapore Governments and partnered with leading NGOs to support the augmentation of healthcare facilities, including government hospitals and COVID centres across major cities.

The relief efforts will support organisations working to alleviate the pressure faced by healthcare facilities by facilitating the supply of critical resources such as medical equipment, oxygen supplies, vaccinations and ICU beds, essential for managing the current wave of the pandemic.

DBS Bank, with the support of the Singapore High Commission in India and High Commission of India based in Singapore, is importing three cryogenic oxygen tanks, approximately 20,000 litres capacity each, to support the ongoing relief efforts. The tanks will be donated via the Singapore Red Cross to India and deployed for use through the Ministry of Health, India, thereby complementing the ongoing efforts to provide necessary oxygen supplies to healthcare centres across the nation.

Additionally, DBS is also partnering with Doctors For You and United Way Mumbai to support the overall effort to combat the current spike in the pandemic. The partnership with Doctors For You will support the set-up of a 300-bed oxygen equipped facility in Mumbai, along with the installation of mini oxygen plants, procurement of oxygen concentrators, and provision of medical personnel. The partnership with United Way Mumbai will facilitate ICU unit beds and equipment, oxygen concentrator devices and other medical supplies to enhance existing capacity at public healthcare facilities in Mumbai and Pune. 

DBS will soon launch a vaccine sensitisation campaign in collaboration with UNICEF. The objective of the campaign will be to address vaccine hesitancy by creating awareness among employees, customers and the general public. 

DBS employees across Asia have started a fundraising initiative to donate funds towards healthcare support and vaccination for the underprivileged through GiveIndia. The bank has announced that it will make a matching contribution that will be deployed through various on-ground partners, thereby doubling the impact of staff donations. 

The overall contribution across all the initiatives will be more than SGD 2 MN (more than INR 10 Crores).

Surojit Shome, Managing Director and CEO, DBS Bank India, said, "As India battles the current wave of the pandemic, public-private partnerships are more critical than ever. Access to emergency healthcare equipment is of utmost importance. We hope that our multiple engagements with NGOs and authorities to mobilise the necessary resources will help those who need them the most. At DBS, we believe that we are stronger together as we continue to support our customers, colleagues and the community at large to overcome this crisis."

Simon Wong, Singapore High Commissioner, India, said, "We are greatly heartened by DBS' swift response to the call of assistance for India. Singapore Government agencies, companies and NGOs have been working tirelessly with their Indian counterparts in the past few weeks to move critical supplies to India. Singapore has always been an all-weather friend, and we stand with India in the fight against COVID."

Extending support to employees through this pandemic has been a core focus for DBS. The bank has partnered with Connect and Heal (CNH) to facilitate vaccination for its employees. Additionally, DBS is also helping to arrange oxygen concentrators for the staff and their families to reduce the pressure on hospital beds. Staff can also avail of medical assistance via an on-call doctor facility. Health sessions promoting mindfulness and fitness are organised to boost employee morale and wellbeing.

Separate allowances and support schemes have been introduced to help employees meet COVID-related expenses.